Thomas J. Lipton Co., Division of Conopco, Inc.

Lipton, Division of Conopco, Inc.

Internationale Octrooi Maatschaapij 'octropa' B.v.

Petrus W Van Der Zon

Geoffrey W Vernon

Simon Charles Martin

Jan J Kuipers

Packets containing a flowable material are provided with a draw-string or thread to squeeze the packet contents. The packet envelope is formed from a doubled-over web which gives the packet a folded-over edge and which encloses an intermediate portion of the thread close to the folded-over edge. The end portions of the web extend from the intermediate portion of the thread to extend through the opposite edge of the packet. The external ends of the thread are secured to a tag which is attached to the outer face of the envelope. The thread intermediate portion is retained close to the folded-over edge by heat sealing. Apparatus is also described for producing the packets in a continuous or semi-continuous manner.

Infusion packets

Packets containing a flowable material are provided with a draw-string or thread to squeeze the packet contents. The packet envelope is formed from a doubled-over web which gives the packet a folded-over edge and which encloses an intermediate portion of the thread close to the folded-over edge. The end portions of the web extend from the intermediate portion of the thread to extend through the opposite edge of the packet. The external ends of the thread are secured to a tag which is attached to the outer face of the envelope. The thread intermediate portion is retained close to said one edge by heat seal means. Apparatus is also described for producing the packets in a continuous or semi-continuous manner.

Packets and their manufacture

A dual compartment infusion packet has the compartments directly secured to each other at one end of the packet and separated by a V-fold of the packet material at the other end. A suspension thread has an intermediate portion lying within the fold and end portions extending therefrom through attachment means at the other end of the packet. The end portions are displaceable in the attachment means so that when tensioned they contract the packet to squeeze out liquid held in the packet after an infusion process.

A method and apparatus for packaging irregularly shaped articles is provided in which one or more articles is supported on one or more supports, enclosing the supports and the articles in a pack and removing the supports through one or more openings in the pack.

Growing community of inventors

Zwijndrecht, Netherlands

Petrus W Van Der Zon