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Patent 2834764 Summary

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Claims and Abstract availability

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(12) Patent Application: (11) CA 2834764
(54) English Title: PACKAGING BAG AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME
(54) French Title: SAC D'EMBALLAGE ET PROCEDE DE FABRICATION DE SAC D'EMBALLAGE
Status: Dead
Bibliographic Data
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):
  • B65D 75/62 (2006.01)
(72) Inventors :
  • YAMADA, SHOHEI (Japan)
(73) Owners :
  • OTSUKA PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD. (Japan)
(71) Applicants :
  • OTSUKA PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD. (Japan)
(74) Agent: BORDEN LADNER GERVAIS LLP
(74) Associate agent:
(45) Issued:
(86) PCT Filing Date: 2012-05-18
(87) Open to Public Inspection: 2012-12-06
Availability of licence: N/A
(25) Language of filing: English

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT): Yes
(86) PCT Filing Number: PCT/JP2012/062839
(87) International Publication Number: WO2012/165180
(85) National Entry: 2013-10-30

(30) Application Priority Data:
Application No. Country/Territory Date
2011-119517 Japan 2011-05-27

Abstracts

English Abstract

This packaging bag is provided with a cut for serving as an opening starting point, and an easy cut portion disposed on an extension line of the cut in a direction of opening, such that the easy cut portion is disposed to extend from a point on one side of a back seal portion to a point on the other side of the back seal portion, and each end of the easy cut portion is disposed to be apart from a side end portion of a bag main body.


French Abstract

La présente invention concerne un sac d'emballage pourvu d'une découpe servant de point de départ d'une ouverture, et d'une partie découpe facile disposée sur une ligne d'extension de la découpe dans une direction d'ouverture, de telle sorte que la partie découpe facile est disposée pour s'étendre d'un point sur un côté d'une partie joint arrière jusqu'à un point de l'autre côté de la partie joint arrière, et chaque extrémité de la partie découpe facile est conçue pour être à distance d'une partie d'extrémité latérale d'un corps principal du sac.

Claims

Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


27
CLAIMS:
1. A packaging bag comprising a bag body containing a content, wherein
the bag body comprises:
a back seal portion formed by sealing a film in a length direction and
disposed on a back surface;
a pair of end seal portions formed by sealing the film in a width
direction and disposed on ends in a length direction;
an edge seal portion formed by sealing the film and disposed on one
side end;
a notch being formed in the edge seal portion, the notch serving as a
starting point for opening of the bag body; and
an easy-to-cut portion disposed on an extension of the notch in an
opening direction,
the easy-to-cut portion being formed to extend beyond the back seal portion
between one side and the other side of the back seal portion, and
the ends of the easy-to-cut portion being disposed away from side ends of the
bag body, respectively.
2. The packaging bag according to claim 1, wherein each of the ends of the
easy-to-cut portion is disposed 10 to 25 mm away from a corresponding one of
the
side ends of the bag body.
3. The packaging bag according to claim 2, wherein each of the ends of the
easy-to-cut portion is disposed 10 to 15 mm away from a corresponding one of
the
side ends of the bag body.

28
4. The packaging bag according to claim 1, wherein each of the ends of the
easy-to-cut portion is disposed at a distance of 14 to 36% of a width
dimension of the
bag body away from a corresponding one of the side ends of the bag body.
5. The packaging bag according to claim 2, wherein each of the ends of the
easy-to-cut portion is disposed at a distance of 14 to 21% of a width
dimension of the
bag body away from a corresponding one of the side ends of the bag body.
6. The packaging bag according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the
back
seal portion is formed by sealing both side edges of the film in a length
direction and
is folded at a proximal end of the back seal portion such that a distal end of
the back
seal portion faces the other side of the bag body.
7. The packaging bag according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the
edge
seal portion is disposed along a length direction of the bag body from one of
the pair
of end seal portions and is disposed to overlap the easy-to-cut portion in the
width
direction of the bag body.
8. The packaging bag according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein
the easy-to-cut portion is formed in a rectangular shape, and
the notch is disposed at a central portion of the easy-to-cut portion in a
length direction of the bag body.
9. A method of producing the packaging bag according to any one of claims 1
to 8,
comprising:
forming the back seal portion by sealing both side edges of a film having a
band shape in a length direction to form the film into a cylindrical shape;
and
forming the pair of end seal portions by sealing in a width direction the film

having a cylindrical shape to form the film into a bag shape,

29
wherein the film includes the easy-to-cut portion formed on both side ends
such that the easy-to-cut portion is formed to extend beyond the back seal
portion
between one side and the other side of the back seal portion.

Description

Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


. .
CA 02834764 2013-10-30
1
DESCRIPTION
PACKAGING BAG AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001]
The present invention relates to a packaging bag for packaging various
contents, such as medicines and food, with a film, and a method of producing
the
packaging bag.
Description of the Related Art
[0002]
As an example of known packaging bags, there is known a packaging bag for
packaging contents by pillow packaging with a laminate film formed by
laminating
several types of plastic films. Such a packaging bag is easy to handle and
contributes to a reduction in volume of garbage, and thus is preferably used.
[0003]
A laminate film forming a packaging bag has various functions, such as high
strength, high tension strength, gas barrier, moisture permeability, and aroma

retention, for each film layer. The packaging bag is formed by laminating
plastic
films having functions suitable for each type of the contents.
[0004]
However, the packaging bag formed of plastic films is excellent in strength
and tension strength, which makes it difficult for a user to cut an end of the

packaging bag with hands and necessitates the user to use scissors, a knife,
or the
like to cut the end. Further, when the user forms a cut line with scissors or
the like
and opens the bag along the cut line, the cut portion is not always linearly
formed.
Thus, there is a possibility that the contents burst out of the packaging bag.

CA 02834764 2013-10-30
2
[0005]
Furthermore, the pillow-type packaging bag includes a heat seal portion
(back seal portion) formed on the back surface with a certain thickness.
Accordingly,
this back seal portion deteriorates the openability of the packaging bag. The
problem of deterioration in openability is more remarkable for physically weak
users
such as patients and children.
[0006]
For example, as a known technique in which the openability is improved,
there is known a technique disclosed in Patent Document 1. This technique
improves the openability by forming an opening facilitating portion (rough
surface
having fine unevenness) serving as a starting point for opening the packaging
bag,
thereby improving the openability. Further, according to this technique, to
prevent
the packaging bag from being erroneously opened (to make it difficult to open
the
packaging bag) by an infant who plays a trick, for example, the opening
facilitating
portion is partially formed on the inside of the outer periphery of the
packaging bag
so as not to be formed on the outer periphery.
[0007]
Thus, the opening facilitating portion is formed on the inside of the outer
periphery, which makes it difficult for the user to cut the outer peripheral
portion,
even if he or she attempts. On the other hand, the user pulls the film to
thereby
allow the opening facilitating portion to be moved to the outer periphery of
the
packaging bag. Accordingly, in this state, the user can open the packaging bag
with
the opening facilitating portion as a starting point of opening. However, in
the
technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the operation for pulling the film
is
required for the user to open the bag, which makes the opening operation
extremely
troublesome.

CA 02834764 2013-10-30
3
Prior Art Document
Patent Document
[0008]
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 3971910
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
[0009]
In this regard, to simplify the opening operation, there is proposed a
packaging bag E including an opening facilitating portion 32 formed along a
side end
31 of a bag body 30 as illustrated in FIG. 8. However, in the case where the
packaging bag E illustrated in FIG. 8 has dropped, there is a possibility that
the
opening facilitating portion 32 of the packaging bag E bursts due to an impact
of the
drop.
[0010]
For example, in the packaging bag, the surrounding portion of which is
heat-sealed, as in a four-sided seal, the packaging bag hardly bursts.
Meanwhile,
in the pillow-type packaging bag including a soft side end which is not heat-
sealed,
the packaging bag is liable to burst. In particular, in the case of a
packaging bag
having a large width and containing heavy contents (for example, a packaging
bag
having a width of 70 mm and containing contents of 50 g), there is a
possibility that
the packaging bag bursts at a portion near a side end due to the impact of the
drop.
[0011]
In view of this, an experiment was conducted to drop the packaging bag E
illustrated in FIG. 8. Then, a portion of the opening facilitating portion 32
which is
slightly above a drop surface G was deformed to be recessed into a square
shape.
Further, the impact of the drop was centered on the portion deformed to be
recessed
in a square shape, with the result that a hole (pin-hole) 33 was formed at
this portion.

_. =
CA 02834764 2013-10-30
4
_
Thus, the packaging bag E illustrated in FIG. 8 cannot solve the problem of
suppressing the formation of a hole when the packaging bag drops.
[0012]
When the packaging bag E illustrated in FIG. 8 is gripped by the user, the
packaging bag is similarly deformed to be recessed into a square shape in the
vicinity of the side end. When the grip force is centered on the portion
deformed to
be recessed into a square shape, a hole is formed in some cases. Thus, the
packaging bag E illustrated in FIG. 8 cannot solve the problem of suppressing
the
formation of the hole 33 when the user grips the packaging bag with hands.
[0013]
Furthermore, the packaging bag E illustrated in FIG. 8 has the opening
facilitating portion 32 partially formed in the width direction. This may
cause the
user not to perfectly open the packaging bag from one side end to the other
side end
when the user is to open the wide packaging bag E. That is, the cutting may be

stopped halfway. When the cutting is stopped halfway, there is a problem that
it
takes time and troublesome works for the user to transfer the contents of the
packaging bag E to another container. Note that such a problem occurs also in
the
packaging bag disclosed in Patent Document 1.
[0014]
The pillow-type packaging bag formed of soft plastic films is preferable in
that the packaging bag is easy to handle and contributes to a reduction in
volume of
garbage. However, the film is high in strength and tension strength, which
makes
it difficult for the user to easily open the packaging bag.
[0015]
In this regard, it is also possible to perform scratch work on a side end of
an
outer plastic film to allow the user to easily open the packaging bag with
hands.
However, the strength of the film is lowered at the portion subjected to the
scratch
work. This may result in formation of a hole in the packaging bag due to the
impact
of the drop, for example. In particular, the packaging bag containing heavy

CA 02834764 2013-10-30
contents and having a large width is liable to burst due to the impact of the
drop, for
example.
[0016]
In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
packaging bag having two incompatible functions, i.e., the function of
allowing a
user to easily open the packaging bag with hands, and the function of
preventing
formation of an unwanted hole when an unexpected external force acts, and a
method of producing the packaging bag.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017]
According to the present invention, there is provided a packaging bag, which
includes a bag body for containing a content, the bag body including: a back
seal
portion formed by sealing a film in a length direction and disposed on a back
surface;
a pair of end seal portions formed by sealing the film in a width direction
and
disposed on ends in a length direction; an edge seal portion formed by sealing
the
film and disposed on one side end; and a notch being formed in the edge seal
portion,
the notch serving as a starting point for opening of the bag body; and an easy-
to-cut
portion disposed on an extension of the notch in an opening direction, the
easy-to-cut
portion being formed to extend beyond the back seal portion between one side
and
the other side of the back seal portion, and the ends of the easy-to-cut
portion being
disposed away from side ends of the bag body, respectively.
[0018]
The packaging bag according to the present invention may have a
configuration in which each of the ends of the easy-to-cut portion is disposed
10 to 25
mm away from a corresponding one of the side ends of the bag body.

. .
CA 02834764 2013-10-30
6
[0019]
The packaging bag according to the present invention may have a
configuration in which each of the ends of the easy-to-cut portion is disposed
10 to 15
mm away from a corresponding one of the side ends of the bag body.
[0020]
The packaging bag according to the present invention may have a
configuration in which each of the ends of the easy-to-cut portion is disposed
at a
distance of 14 to 36% of a width dimension of the bag body away from a
corresponding one of the side ends of the bag body.
[0021]
The packaging bag according to the present invention may have a
configuration in which each of the ends of the easy-to-cut portion is disposed
at a
distance of 14 to 21% of a width dimension of the bag body away from a
corresponding one of the side ends of the bag body.
[0022]
The packaging bag according to the present invention may have a
configuration in which the back seal portion is formed by sealing both side
edges of
the film in a length direction and is folded at a proximal end of the back
seal portion
such that a distal end of the back seal portion faces the other side of the
bag body.
[0023]
The packaging bag according to the present invention may have a
configuration in which the edge seal portion is disposed along a length
direction of
the bag body from one of the pair of end seal portions and is disposed to
overlap the
easy-to-cut portion in the width direction of the bag body.
[0024]
The packaging bag according to the present invention may have a
configuration in which the easy-to-cut portion is formed in a rectangular
shape, and
the notch is disposed at a central portion of the easy-to-cut portion in a
length
direction of the bag body.

=
CA 02834764 2013-10-30
7
[0025]
A method of producing the packaging bag according to the present invention,
includes: forming the back seal portion by sealing both side edges of a film
having a
band shape in a length direction to form the film into a cylindrical shape;
and
forming the pair of end seal portions by sealing in a width direction the film
having a
cylindrical shape to form the film into a bag shape, in which the film
includes the
easy-to-cut portion formed on both side ends such that the easy-to-cut portion
is
formed to extend beyond the back seal portion between one side of the back
seal
portion and the other side of the back seal portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026]
FIG. 1 illustrates an overall front view of a packaging bag according to a
first
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates an overall back view of the packaging bag according to the
first embodiment;
FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view illustrating an essential part of the
packaging bag according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 4 illustrates a development diagram of the packaging bag according to
the first embodiment;
FIG. 5 illustrates an overall back view of a packaging bag according to a
second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 illustrates an overall back view of a packaging bag according to a
comparative example;
FIG. 7 illustrates an overall back view of a packaging bag according to
another comparative example; and
FIG. 8 illustrates an overall font view of a packaging bag in a state where
the
packaging bag has been dropped.

CA 02834764 2013-10-30
8
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027]
Hereinafter, a packaging bag according to an embodiment of the present
invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. Note that in the
following description, the upper side, the lower side, the left side, and the
right side
of FIG. 1 respectively correspond to the upper side, the lower side, the left
side, and
the right side of a packaging bag A. The upper side and the lower side of
FIGS. 2, 4,
and 5 respectively correspond to the upper side and the lower side of each of
packaging bags A and B. The left side and the right side of FIGS. 2, 4, and 5
respectively correspond to the right side and the left side of each of the
packaging
bags A and B.
[0028]
<First Embodiment>
First, a packaging bag according to a first embodiment of the present
invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. As illustrated in
FIGS. 1
and 2, the packaging bag A includes contents X and a bag body 1 containing the

contents X. In the first embodiment, the contents X are powdery drug, but the
contents X are not limited thereto. For example, the contents X may be liquid
drug,
granular drug, or aggregated solid food (such as individually-wrapped
candies). In
the first embodiment, the bag body 1 is a pillow type packaging body having a
flat
rectangular shape as viewed from the front.
[0029]
The bag body 1 is formed of a laminate film F. The laminate film F is
formed by sequentially laminating polymeric resin (SPE) serving as a binder,
aluminum foil for giving a gas barrier property, polymer resin serving as a
binder,
and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) for preventing electrification on
one
surface of a film formed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

= CA 02834764 2013-10-30
9
[0030]
The bag body 1 includes a back seal portion 2 disposed on the back surface,
and a pair of end seal portions 3 and 4 disposed on ends in a length
direction.
Specifically, the bag body 1 includes the back seal portion 2 formed by
sealing (center
sealing) both side edges of the band-like film F in the length direction so as
to wrap
the contents X; the upper-side end seal portion 3 formed by sealing an upper
end of
the film F in a width direction; and the lower-side end seal portion 4 formed
by
sealing a lower end of the film F in the width direction.
[0031]
The bag body 1 includes an easy-to-cut portion 5 formed to be weaker than
the surrounding portion so that the bag body can be easily cut therethrough.
The
bag body 1 includes an edge seal portion 7 disposed on a left side end (one
side end)
la, and a notch 8 for an opening starting point formed in the edge seal
portion 7.
Note that a surface on the opposite side of the back surface of the bag body 1
is
referred to as a front surface of the bag body 1.
[0032]
The bag seal portion 2 is formed in a band shape and disposed at
substantially the center in the width direction of the back surface of the bag
body 1.
The back seal portion 2 is folded at a proximal end 2b such that a distal end
2a faces
the right side (the other side). The upper end seal portion 3 is formed in a
band
shape and disposed at an upper end serving as a short-side portion of the bag
body 1.
The lower end seal portion 4 is formed in a band shape and disposed at a lower
end
serving as a short-side portion of the bag body 1.
[0033]
Easy-to-cut portions 5 are provided in a pair and are respectively disposed on

the front surface and the back surface of the bag body 1. Each easy-to-cut
portion 5
is formed in a rectangular shape. Specifically, each easy-to-cut portion 5 is
formed
in a band shape. Ends 5a of each easy-to-cut portion 5 are disposed away from
the
side ends la and lb, respectively.

= CA 02834764 2013-10-30
[0034]
Each easy-to-cut portion 5 is disposed on an extension of the notch 8 in the
opening direction. Each easy-to-cut portion 5 is disposed along the upper end
seal
portion 3 of the bag body 1. One end (left end) 5a of the easy-to-cut portion
5 on the
back surface side is disposed at a position on one side (left side) of the
back seal
portion 2, and the other end (right end) 5a of the easy-to-cut portion 5 on
the back
surface side is disposed at a position on the other side (right side) of the
back seal
portion 2.
[0035]
Thus, the easy-to-cut portion 5 on the back surface side is disposed to
continuously extend beyond the back seal portion between a portion on the left
side
of the back seal portion 2 and a portion on the right side of the back seal
portion 2.
In other words, the easy-to-cut portion 5 on the back surface side is disposed
to
extend across the back seal portion 2.
[0036]
If a vertical dimension "a" of each easy-to-cut portion 5 is small, a cut line

may deviate from the easy-to-cut portion 5 when the user opens the bag body 1.
On
the contrary, if the vertical dimension "a" of each easy-to-cut portion 5 is
large, the
bag body 1 may burst. For this reason, the vertical dimension "a" of each
easy-to-cut portion 5 is set to be in a range of 3 to 30 mm, preferably 3 to
10 mm, and
more preferably 4 to 7 mm.
[0037]
If a distance "d" between the side end la of the bag body 1 and the end 5a of
each easy-to-cut portion 5 and a distance "e" between the side end lb of the
bag body
1 and the end 5a of each easy-to-cut portion 5 are small, the bag body 1 may
burst.
On the contrary, if the distances "d" and "e" are large, the cut direction
skews when
the user opens the bag body 1, with the result that the cut may deviate from
the
easy-to-cut portion 5, or the cut may be stopped halfway.

=
CA 02834764 2013-10-30
11
[0038]
For this reason, the distances "d" and "e" each are set to 10 to 25 mm,
preferably 10 to 15 mm, and more preferably 13 to 15 mm. In other words, the
distances "d" and "e" each are set to 14 to 36%, preferably 14 to 21%, and
more
preferably 19 to 21% of the width dimension of the bag body 1.
[0039]
In the first embodiment, the length dimension of the bag body 1 is 173 mm;
the width dimension of the bag body 1 is 70 mm; the vertical dimension (length

dimension) "a" of each easy-to-cut portion 5 is 5 mm; a horizontal dimension
(width
dimension) "b" of each easy-to-cut portion 5 is 42 mm; a distance "c" between
the
upper end of the bag body 1 and the upper end of each easy-to-cut portion 5 is
20
mm; a distance "d" between one side end (left side end) la of the bag body 1
and one
end (left end) 5a of each easy-to-cut portion 5 is 13 mm; and a distance "e"
between
the other side end (right side end) lb of the bag body 1 and the other end
(right end)
5a of each easy-to-cut portion 5 is 15 mm.
[0040]
In the first embodiment, each easy-to-cut portion 5 has a plurality of linear
flaws (notches) arranged along the width direction. Note that work to be
performed
on each easy-to-cut portion 5 may be work for allowing the area of each easy-
to-cut
portion 5 to be easily opened. The type of the work is not particularly
limited. For
example, the work may be scratch work for physically applying a force onto a
target
area of the film F a through contacting engagement, scratch work in a non-
contact
manner (for example, laser), or work for forming a non-penetrating perforation
or a
recess.
[0041]
In the first embodiment, the flaws of each easy-to-cut portion 5 penetrate
through only a PET layer serving as a surface layer (outermost layer) of the
film F.
Note that any work may be performed on each easy-to-cut portion 5, as long as
an
aluminum layer (a layer made of aluminum foil) is not penetrated. That is, any

=
CA 02834764 2013-10-30
12
work may be performed on each easy-to-cut portion 5, as long as the aluminum
layer
and a layer on the back side thereof (back-side layer) are not penetrated.
[0042]
The edge seal portion 7 is disposed on an upper portion of the left side end
la
of the bag body 1 along the left side end la. Specifically, the edge seal
portion 7 is
disposed along the length direction of the bag body 1 from the upper end seal
portion
3.
[0043]
The edge seal portion 7 is disposed to overlap each easy-to-cut portion 5 in
the width direction of the bag body 1. Specifically, the upper end of the edge
seal
portion 7 is disposed on the upper side of the upper end of each easy-to-cut
portion 5,
and the lower end of the edge seal portion 7 is disposed on the lower side of
the lower
end of each easy-to-cut portion 5. The edge seal portion 7 is formed by
sealing the
film F.
[0044]
The notch 8 is disposed at a central portion of each easy-to-cut portion 5 in
the length direction of the bag body 1. The notch 8 is formed in the edge seal

portion 7 from the left side end la of the bag body 1 toward the inside. Thus,
as
illustrated in FIG. 3, a folding direction of the heat-sealed back seal
portion 2 of the
bag body 1 (a direction from the proximal end 2b of the back seal portion 2
toward
the distal end 2a) and a cut direction of the notch 8 coincide with each other
in the
opening direction.
[0045]
Since the contents X are powdery drug in the first embodiment, about 50% of
the quantity that can be contained in the bag body 1 is contained in the bag
body 1.
This is because when the powdery contents X are filled, the content flies.
Thus,
when a large amount of the contents X are contained in the bag body 1, the
contents
X may be caught between the upper end seal portion 3 and the lower end seal
portion
4. Note that when the contents X are individually-wrapped candies or the like,

CA 02834764 2013-10-30
13
about 70 to 80% of the quantity of the contents X that can be contained in the
bag
body 1 are contained in the bag body 1.
[0046]
Next, a method of producing the packaging bag A according to the first
embodiment will be described.
[0047]
First, back surfaces of both side edges of the laminate film F are fit
together
and the fit portion is heat-sealed in the length direction. As a result, the
back seal
portion 2 is formed at a central portion in the width direction of the bag
body 1, and
the band-like film F is formed into a cylindrical body. Next, one opened end
of the
cylindrical body is heat-sealed in the width direction, thereby forming the
lower end
seal portion 4.
[0048]
Then, after the contents X are contained in the film F, the other end is
heat-sealed in the width direction, thereby forming the upper end seal portion
3.
The packaging bag A is produced in this manner. Note that the packaging bag A
may be continuously formed by continuously sealing the both side edges of the
long
band-like film (web) F in the length direction and sealing and cutting the
film F in
the width direction at predetermined intervals in the length direction.
[0049]
Each easy-to-cut portion 5 is preferably formed in the film F having a
uniform thickness (with no back seal portion 2 formed therein) prior to the
formation
of the packaging bag A. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 4, each easy-to-cut
portion 5 is
formed in a band shape at a central portion in the width direction of the film
F so as
to be disposed on the front surface of the bag body I. The easy-to-cut
portions 5 are
formed in a pair in a band shape along the width direction of the both side
ends (both
ends in the width direction) of the film F so as to extend from one side of
the back
seal portion 2 to the other side of the back seal portion 2 on the back
surface of the
bag body I.

. = CA 02834764 2013-10-30
14
[0050]
Next, a first function, i.e., a function of facilitating opening when the user

opens the packaging bag with hands, of the packaging bag A according to the
first
embodiment will be described.
[0051]
A divided one area (upper end corner of the bag body 1) is gripped by one
hand of the user, and the other area (the left side end la in the vicinity of
the notch
8) is gripped by the other hand of the user. Further, the upper end corner of
the bag
body 1 is pulled toward the other end side by the user. Then, cutting is
started from
the right end of the notch 8 and the cut portion reaches the left end of each
easy-to-cut portion 5.
[0052]
After that, the cutting advances along each easy-to-cut portion 5, the cut
portion reaches the right end of each easy-to-cut portion 5. Then, the cut
portion
finally reaches the right side end lb of the bag body 1. In this manner, the
packaging bag 1 can be easily opened along the area extending from the left
side end
la to the right side end lb of the bag body 1 even by a physically weak user.
[0053]
Further, the bag body 1 is divided into a lower side portion (large part of
the
bag body 1) of the easy-to-cut portions 5 and an upper side portion (a band-
like cut
piece) of the easy-to-cut portions 5. A portion (a portion indicated by dot-
dashed
lines in FIG. 1) which is cut substantially linearly along the easy-to-cut
portions 5
serves as an opening 10 of the bag body 1. This allows the contents X to be
easily
taken out. Note that the width of the opening 10 (that is, the width of the
edge seal
portion 7) is set so that the contents X can be taken out from the opening 10
without
difficulty.

CA 02834764 2013-10-30
[0054]
Next, a second function, i.e., a function of preventing formation of an
unwanted hole when an unexpected external force acts, of the packaging bag A
according to the first embodiment will be described.
[0055]
When the packaging bag A drops, for example, the force acting on the bag
body 1 is determined by the weight of the contents X, an acceleration
generated by
the gravity, and a drop distance. Accordingly, when the packaging bag A
containing
the heavy contents X drops, the above-mentioned force acting on the bag body 1
and
a force (drop impact force) from the drop surface G, which is a reaction force
of the
force acting on the bag body 1, act on the packaging body A.
[0056]
For example, assume that the packaging bag A drops with the upper side end
seal portion 3 of the bag body 1 being on the lower side. In this case, there
is a large
difference between the strength of the upper end seal portion 3 and the
strength of
the both side ends (non-sealed portions) la and lb of the bag body 1.
Accordingly,
the impact received by the upper end seal portion 3 is concentrated on the
corner
portions on both sides of the bag body 1. As a result, the corner portions are

extremely bent or deformed and deformed in an angular shape. If the easy-to-
cut
portions 5 are formed at the portions deformed into an angular shape, the
easy-to-cut portions 5 are bent or folded, so that a hole is easily formed in
the
easy-to-cut portions 5.
[0057]
On the other hand, in the packaging bag A according to the first embodiment,
the ends 5a of each easy-to-cut portion 5 are spaced away from the side ends
la and
lb of the bag body 1, respectively. In other words, each easy-to-cut portion 5
is
formed at a position slightly inside the side ends la and lb of the bag body 1
and at a
position inside the portions deformed into an angular shape. Accordingly, even

when the bag body 1 drops and deformed, the easy-to-cut portions 5 are not
bent or

CA 02834764 2013-10-30
16
folded and thus no hole is formed in the easy-to-cut portions 5. Therefore,
the bag
body 1 is prevented from bursting even when the bag body 1 drops and is
subjected
to impact.
[0058]
As described above, the packaging bag A according to the first embodiment
includes the bag body 1 containing the contents X. The bag body 1 includes the

back seal portion 2 formed by sealing the film F in the length direction and
disposed
on the back surface; a pair of the end seal portions 3 and 4 formed by sealing
the film
F in the width direction and disposed at ends in the length direction; the
edge seal
portion 7 formed by sealing the film and disposed on one side end la; the
notch 8
being formed in the edge seal portion 7, the notch serving as a starting point
for
opening of the bag body; and the easy-to-cut portions 5 disposed on an
extension of
the notch 8 in the opening direction. Each easy-to-cut portion 5 is disposed
to
extend beyond the back seal portion between one side of the back seal portion
2 and
the other side of the back seal portion 2, and the ends 5a of each easy-to-cut
portion 5
are disposed away from the side ends la and lb of the bag body 1.
[0059]
Accordingly, in the packaging bag A according to the first embodiment, each
easy-to-cut portion 5 is disposed to extend beyond the back seal portion
between the
position on the left side of the back seal portion 2 and the position on the
right side of
the back seal portion 2. Specially, each easy-to-cut portion 5 is continuously
formed
with a constant width and is formed to extend across at least the back seal
portion 2.
Further, the notch 8 for an opening starting point is formed in the edge seal
portion 7
disposed on the left side end la of the bag body 1, and each easy-to-cut
portion 5 is
disposed on an extension of the notch 8 in the opening direction.
[0060]
Thus, when the packaging bag is opened, the notch 8 serves as a starting
(cutting) point of opening. The bag body 1 is cut along each easy-to-cut
portion 5
disposed on an extension of the notch 8. Accordingly, the bag body 1 is cut

=
CA 02834764 2013-10-30
17
substantially linearly along the area extending from the left side end la to
the right
side end lb. This enables anybody to easily open the packaging bag A.
[0061]
For example, when a physically weak user is to open the packaging bag A to
transfer the contents X to another container (for example, a glass-like
container) and
add water into the container to drink it, the packaging bag A can be easily
opened
with even a small force. In addition, the opening 10 is formed linearly, which

enables the user to easily transfer the contents X to another container
without
troublesome works.
[0062]
Moreover, in the packaging bag A according to the first embodiment, the ends
5a of each easy-to-cut portion 5 are disposed away from the side ends la and
lb.
Specifically, none of the ends 5a of the easy-to-cut portions 5 are connected
to the
notch 8 (that is, all the ends 5a of the easy-to-cut portions 5 are spaced
away from
the notch 8), and all the ends 5a of the easy-to-cut portions 5 are positioned
at
portions slightly inside the side ends la and lb of the bag body 1.
[0063]
Accordingly, when the packaging bag A containing the contents X drops, the
deformed portions which are bent or folded into an angular shape are formed at
the
corners of the bag body 1, but can be prevented from reaching the easy-to-cut
portions 5. This prevents the packaging bag from bursting at the portions
corresponding to the easy-to-cut portions 5, and also prevents the contents X
from
leaking out of the bag body 1.
[0064]
Further, in the packaging bag A according to the first embodiment, the ends
5a of each easy-to-cut portion 5 are disposed 10 to 25 mm (specifically, 10 to
15 mm,
more specifically, 13 to 15 mm) away from the side ends la and lb of the bag
body 1.
In other words, the ends 5a of each easy-to-cut portion 5 are disposed at a
distance
corresponding to 14 to 36% (specifically, 14 to 21%, more specifically, 19 to
21%) of

. = CA 02834764 2013-10-30
18
the width dimension of the bag body 1 away from the side ends la and lb of the
bag
body 1.
[0065]
Accordingly, in the packaging bag A according to the first embodiment, the
ends 5a of each easy-to-cut portion 5 are disposed a predetermined distance
away
from both side ends la and lb of the bag body 1. This prevents each easy-to-
cut
portion 5 from being deformed even when the packaging bag A drops, causing
deformation of the bag body 1. Therefore, the bag body 1 can be prevented from

bursting.
[0066]
Further, in the packaging bag A according to the first embodiment, the back
seal portion 2 is formed by sealing the both side edges of the film F in the
length
direction, and is folded at the proximal end 2b of the back seal portion 2
such that
the distal end 2a of the back seal portion 2 faces the other side of the bag
body 1.
[0067]
Accordingly, in the packaging bag A according to the first embodiment, the
back seal portion 2 is folded at the proximal end 2b, and the distal end 2a of
the back
seal portion 2 is positioned on the right side. In addition, the proximal end
2b of the
back seal portion 2 is positioned on the left side. Thus, the folding
direction of the
back seal portion 2 and the cutting direction of the notch 8 coincide with
each other
in the opening direction, thereby allowing the packaging bag A to be more
easily
opened.
[0068]
Further, in the packaging bag A according to the first embodiment, the edge
seal portion 7 is disposed along the length direction of the bag body 1 from
the end
seal portion 3 on one side, and is disposed to overlap each easy-to-cut
portion 5 in the
width direction of the bag body 1.

. ' CA 02834764 2013-10-30
19
[0069]
Accordingly, in the packaging bag A according to the first embodiment, the
edge seal portion 7 is disposed along the length direction of the bag body 1
from the
upper end seal portion 3. Furthermore, the edge seal portion 7 is disposed to
overlap each easy-to-cut portion 5 in the width direction of the bag body 1.
Thus,
the portion (left side end la) of the edge seal portion 7 of the bag body 1 is
not
deformed when the packaging bag A drops, thereby reliably preventing
deformation
of the left end of each easy-to-cut portion 5.
[0070]
Further, in the packaging bag A according to the first embodiment, each
easy-to-cut portion 5 is formed in a rectangular shape and the notch 8 is
disposed at
a central portion of each easy-to-cut portion 5 in the length direction of the
bag body
1.
[0071]
Accordingly, in the packaging bag A according to the first embodiment, each
easy-to-cut portion 5 is formed in a rectangular shape, more specifically, a
long band
shape in the width direction of the bag body 1. Further, the notch 8 is
disposed at a
central portion of each easy-to-cut portion 5 in the length direction of the
bag body 1.
This allows the cut portion started from the notch 8 to reliably reach the
left end 5a
of each easy-to-cut portion 5.
[0072]
Further, the method of producing the packaging bag A according to the first
embodiment includes: forming the back seal portion 2 by sealing both side
edges of
the film F having a band shape in the length direction to form the film F into
a
cylindrical shape; and forming a pair of the end seal portions 3 and 4 by
sealing the
film in the width direction F having a cylindrical shape to form the film F
into a bag
shape. The film F includes the easy-to-cut portions 5 formed on both side ends
such
that the easy-to-cut portions 5 is formed to extend beyond the back seal
portion

CA 02834764 2013-10-30
between one side of the back seal portion 2 and the other side of the back
seal portion
2.
[0073]
Accordingly, in the packaging bag A according to the first embodiment, the
film F includes the easy-to-cut portions 5 on the both side ends. Thus, when
the
back seal portion 2, the upper end seal portion 3, and the lower end seal
portion 4 are
formed by sealing the film F, each easy-to-cut portion 5 is disposed to extend
beyond
the back seal portion 2 between the position on the left side of the back seal
portion 2
and the position on the right side of the back seal portion 2.
[0074]
<Second Embodiment>
Next, a packaging bag according to a second embodiment of the present
invention will be described with reference to FIG. 5. Note that in FIG. 5,
portions
denoted by the same reference symbols as those of FIGS. 1 to 4 represent
components (elements) identical or corresponding to those of the first
embodiment,
and the description thereof is omitted.
[0075]
As illustrated in FIG. 5, a packaging bag B according to the second
embodiment includes a rectangular (substantially square) easy-to-cut portion
5A,
which is wider than the back seal portion 2, at a position closer to the upper
end seal
portion 3 of the bag body 1, that is, at a central portion on the upper side
of the bag
body 1. In the packaging bag B according to the second embodiment, the
easy-to-cut portion 5A is disposed at an upper portion of the back seal
portion 2, as
compared with the packaging bag A according to the first embodiment.
[0076]
In the second embodiment, the length dimension of the bag body 1 is 173
mm; the width dimension of the bag body 1 is 70 mm; the vertical dimension "a"
and
the horizontal dimension "b" of the easy-to-cut portion 5A are 30 mm which is
larger
than the width dimension of the back seal portion 2; the distance "c" between
the

= CA 02834764 2013-10-30
21
upper end of the bag body 1 and the upper end of the easy-to-cut portion 5A is
15
mm; the distance "d" between the side end la of the bag body 1 and an end 5A1
of the
easy-to-cut portion 5A is 20 mm; and the distance "e" between the side end lb
of the
bag body 1 and the end 5A1 of the easy-to-cut portion 5A is 20 mm.
[0077]
<Example>
Next, an example will be described. To compare the packaging bag A
according to the first embodiment and the packaging bag B according to the
second
embodiment, a packaging bag C of Comparative Example 1 illustrated in FIG. 6
and
a packaging bag D of Comparative Example 2 illustrated in FIG. 7 were
prepared.
The packaging bag C of Comparative Example 1 illustrated in FIG. 6 includes a
band-shaped easy-to-cut portion 5B formed to extend across the both ends la
and lb
of the bag body 1. The packaging bag D of Comparative Example 2 illustrated in

FIG. 7 includes band-shaped easy-to-cut portions 5C and 5C formed to extend
between the upper end seal portion 3 and the lower end seal portion 4 of the
bag
body 1. Note that the packaging bag C of Comparative Example 1 and the
packaging bag D of Comparative Example 2 are not provided with the edge seal
portion 7 and the notch 8.
[0078]
First, a unit drop test and a packaging drop test were conducted on the
packaging bags A, B, C, and D each packaging a content of 50 g. The unit drop
test
is a test in which each packaging bag is allowed to drop from a position at a
height
(drop distance) of 80 cm. The number of samples used in the unit drop test was
set
as follows. That is, the number of the packaging bags A of the first
embodiment was
63; the number of the packaging bags B of the second embodiment was 63; the
number of the packaging bags C of Comparative Example 1 was 60; and the number

of the packaging bags D of Comparative Example 2 was 60.

. .
CA 02834764 2013-10-30
22
[0079]
The packaging drop test is a test in which an outer box filled with 21
packaging bags is allowed to drop three times in succession from a position at
a
height of 1.2 m. The number of samples used in the packaging drop test was set
as
follows. That is, the number of outer boxes containing the packaging bags A of
the
first embodiment was three (3 boxes x 21 packaging bags = 63 packaging bags);
the
number of outer boxes containing the packaging bags B of the second embodiment

was three (3 boxes x 21 packaging bags = 63 packaging bags); the number of
outer
boxes containing the packaging bags C of Comparative Example 1 was 15 (15
boxes x
21 packaging bags = 315 packaging bags); and the number of outer boxes
containing
the packaging bags D of Comparative Example 2 was 15 (15 boxes x 21 packaging
bags = 315 packaging bags).
[0080]
The packaging bags A of the first embodiment and the packaging bags B of
the second embodiment did not burst in the unit drop test and the packaging
drop
test. On the other hand, two of the 60 packaging bags C of Comparative Example
1
burst in the unit drop test, and eight of the 315 packaging bags C of
Comparative
Example 1 burst in the packaging drop test. Meanwhile, two of the 60 packaging

bags D of Comparative Example 2 burst in the unit drop test, and four of the
315
packaging bags D of Comparative Example 2 burst in the packaging drop test.
[0081]
Further, a test for side cutting properties in areas extending from the notch
8
to each of the easy-to-cut portions 5 and 5A (to determine whether the cutting
in the
width direction is easy or not) was conducted on the packaging bags A of the
first
embodiment and the packaging bags B of the second embodiment. As a result,
both
the packaging bags A of the first embodiment and the packaging bags B of the
second
embodiment exhibited favorable side cutting properties.

=
CA 02834764 2013-10-30
23
[0082]
Furthermore, a test for the straightness in each easy-to-cut portions 5
(easy-to-cut portion 5A) (to determine whether the cutting in the width
direction is
linear or not) was conducted on the packaging bags A of the first embodiment
and
the packaging bags B of the second embodiment. As a result, in the packaging
bags
A of the first embodiment, the cut portion (opening 10) was formed along each
easy-to-cut portion 5, so that the straightness was favorable. In the
packaging bags
B of the second embodiment, the cut portion (opening 10) deviated upward
and
downward to some extent within the easy-to-cut portion 5A because the width of
the
easy-to-cut portion 5A was wide, but no problem was posed.
[0083]
Moreover, a tearing sensory test was conducted on 12 persons for the
packaging bags A of the first embodiments. As a result, 10 persons felt that
"the
packaging bag was cut very well"; one person felt that "the packaging bag was
cut
well"; and the remaining one person felt "good".
[0084]
Thus, the packaging bags A of the first embodiment and the packaging bags
B of the second embodiment can be easily opened with even a small force and
can be
opened with the cut portion being substantially linearly, thereby facilitating
transfer
of the contents X to another container. Furthermore, the packaging bags A of
the
first embodiment and the packaging bags B of the second embodiment can
withstand
the drop impact. These functions have been demonstrated from the test results.

[0085]
As described above, according to the packaging bag A and the packaging bag
B of the present invention, it is possible to provide a packaging bag
having two
incompatible functions, i.e., the function of allowing a user to easily open
the
packaging bag with hands, and the function of preventing formation of an
unwanted
hole when an unexpected external force acts.

CA 02834764 2013-10-30
24
[0086]
For example, when the user is to open the packaging bag A (packaging bag B)
to transfer the contents X to anther container (for example, a glass-like
container)
and add water into the container to drink it, the packaging bag A (packaging
bag B)
can be easily opened even by a physically weak user such as a patient. In
addition,
the opening 10 is formed linearly, which enables the user to easily transfer
the
contents X to another container. Furthermore, while the easy-to-cut portions 5

subjected to scratch work or the like are provided, the packaging bag A
(packaging
bag B) is prevented from bursting even when the packaging bag A (packaging bag
B)
having the contents X enclosed therein drops.
[0087]
In this manner, the packaging bag A (packaging bag B) of the present
invention can improve both the function of preventing bursting and the
function of
facilitating the opening. Further, the packaging bag A (packaging bag B) can
be
designed into a vertically long stick shape of a pillow type, or can be
designed with a
large width. This enables such a design that the powdery contents X can be
easily
transferred to another container such as a glass. Therefore, the packaging bag
A
(packaging bag B) of the present invention is a packaging bag particularly
suitable
for physically weak users such as patients and children.
[0088]
Note that the packaging bag of the present invention is not limited to the
above-described embodiments, and the design of the packaging bag can be
arbitrarily changed and modified, for example, as needed, without departing
from
the gist of the invention. The constituents, methods, and the like of the
plurality of
embodiments described above can be arbitrarily employed and combined (the
constituents, methods, and the like of one embodiment can be applied to the
constituents, methods, and the like of the other embodiments), and the
constituents,
methods, and the like of various modified examples described below may be

CA 02834764 2013-10-30
arbitrarily selected and employed as the constituents, methods, and the like
of the
embodiments described above, as a matter of course.
[0089]
For example, in the packaging bag A (packaging bag B) according to the
embodiments described above, the easy-to-cut portion 5 (easy-to-cut portion
5A) is
provided on each of the front surface and the back surface of the bag body 1.
However, the present invention is not limited to this structure. Specifically,
the
packaging bag may have a structure in which the easy-to-cut portion 5 (easy-to-
cut
portion 5A) is provided only on the back surface of the bag body 1. In short,
it is
sufficient that the packaging bag may include the easy-to-cut portion 5 (easy-
to-cut
portion 5A) on the back surface of the bag body 1 such that the easy-to-cut
portion 5
(easy-to-cut portion 5A) is disposed to extend beyond the back seal portion 2
between
one side of the back seal portion 2 and the other side of the back seal
portion 2.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0090]
The packaging bag according to the present invention is provided with a
notch and an easy-to-cut portion in combination, thereby obtaining the
favorable
opening property. Further, the packaging bag according to the present
invention
enables formation of the opening with a width that allows the contents to be
easily
taken out, while the notch (edge seal portion) is provided. In addition, the
packaging bag can be prevented from bursting when the packaging bag drops,
while
the easy-to-cut portion is provided. Moreover, the packaging bag according to
the
present invention can be adopted as a packaging bag for various contents
(powder,
granular or aggregated solid, and liquid) such as medicines and food. The
packaging bag according to the present invention is a packaging bag suitable
for
physically weak users.

. .
CA 02834764 2013-10-30
26
DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0091]
1: bag body, la: side end (left side end), lb: side end (right side end), 2:
back seal portion, 2a: distal end, 2b: proximal end, 3: end seal portion
(upper
end seal portion), 4: end seal portion (lower end seal portion), 5, 5A: easy-
to-cut
portion, 5a, 5A1: end, 7: edge seal portion, 8: notch, 10: opening, A, B:
packaging bag, F: film, X: contents

Representative Drawing
A single figure which represents the drawing illustrating the invention.
Administrative Status

For a clearer understanding of the status of the application/patent presented on this page, the site Disclaimer , as well as the definitions for Patent , Administrative Status , Maintenance Fee  and Payment History  should be consulted.

Administrative Status

Title Date
Forecasted Issue Date Unavailable
(86) PCT Filing Date 2012-05-18
(87) PCT Publication Date 2012-12-06
(85) National Entry 2013-10-30
Dead Application 2018-05-18

Abandonment History

Abandonment Date Reason Reinstatement Date
2017-05-18 FAILURE TO REQUEST EXAMINATION
2017-05-18 FAILURE TO PAY APPLICATION MAINTENANCE FEE

Payment History

Fee Type Anniversary Year Due Date Amount Paid Paid Date
Application Fee $400.00 2013-10-30
Registration of a document - section 124 $100.00 2014-01-03
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 2 2014-05-20 $100.00 2014-02-25
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 3 2015-05-19 $100.00 2015-03-04
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 4 2016-05-18 $100.00 2016-03-07
Owners on Record

Note: Records showing the ownership history in alphabetical order.

Current Owners on Record
OTSUKA PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD.
Past Owners on Record
None
Past Owners that do not appear in the "Owners on Record" listing will appear in other documentation within the application.
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Document
Description 
Date
(yyyy-mm-dd) 
Number of pages   Size of Image (KB) 
Abstract 2013-10-30 1 13
Claims 2013-10-30 3 79
Drawings 2013-10-30 8 49
Description 2013-10-30 26 1,148
Representative Drawing 2013-10-30 1 6
Cover Page 2013-12-20 1 31
PCT 2013-10-30 6 208
Assignment 2013-10-30 4 101
Prosecution-Amendment 2013-10-30 4 144
Assignment 2014-01-03 2 66