Container for housing product and method for making same

• US 20030185467A1
• Filed: 03/18/2003
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Albert L. Baner, Harold H. Bennett, Jerry E. Buchanan, John G. Ratcliff, Rodney A. Buchanan, Todd A. Miles
• Original Assignee: Albert L. Baner, Harold H. Bennett, Jerry E. Buchanan, John G. Ratcliff, Rodney A. Buchanan, Todd A. Miles
• Inventors: Bennett, Harold H., Ratcliff, John G., Baner, Albert L., Buchanan, Jerry E., Miles, Todd A., Buchanan, Rodney A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,217,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 383/6
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2313/02 of hook-and-loop type
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/02 Local reinforcements or stiffening inserts, e.g. wires, strings, strips or frames B65D33/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/105 U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/24 using self-locking integral or attached closure elements, e.g. flaps B65D33/25 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/008 Standing pouches, i.e. "Standbeutel"

Abstract

A flexible container and method for making same are provided. the container comprises a base portion including a bottom, side walls, and an interior, the bottom defining a substantially flat planar surface when the container houses product and the container rests on its bottom, an upper panel portion, that is designed to be received within the interior of the base portion and includes side panels that define a closure member, the upper panel being so constructed and arranged to define a substantially flat surface when the closure member is closed and portions of the upper panel are folded over, the upper panel includes a portion that is sealed to the base portion, and a pair of handles may also be coupled to the base portion.

Claims

1. A flexible container comprising:

a base portion including a bottom, side walls, and an interior, the bottom defining a substantially flat planar surface when the container houses product and the container rests on its bottom; and

an upper panel portion, that is designed to be received within the interior of the base portion and includes side panels that define a closure member, the upper panel being so constructed and arranged to define a substantially flat surface when the closure member is closed and portions of the upper panel are folded over, the upper panel includes a portion that is sealed to the base portion.

2. The container of claim 1 further comprising:

a pair of handles coupled to the base portion.

3. The container of claim 1 further comprising:

a pair of handles coupled to the base portion, each of the pair of handles being bonded to a separate side wall of the base portion.

4. The flexible container of claim 1 wherein the container in a closed position has a substantially cubic-shape.

5. The flexible container of claim 1 wherein the container in a closed position has a substantially triangular shape.

6. The flexible container of claim 1 wherein the pair of handles and upper panel are each thermally sealed to the interior of the base portion.

7. The flexible container of claim 1 wherein the closure member is resealable.

8. The flexible container of claim 1 wherein the closure member includes a ziplock closure.

9. The flexible container of claim 1 wherein the closure member includes a hook and loop closure.

10. The flexible container of claim 1 wherein the closure member includes a zipper closure.

11. The flexible container of claim 1 wherein the closure member includes an adhesive closure.

12. The flexible container of claim 1 wherein the closure member includes a cohesive closure.

13. The flexible container of claim 1 wherein the upper panel portion extends partially below an upper end of the base portion.

14. The flexible container of claim 1 wherein a portion of the handles extends above the upper panel after the container is closed.

15. The flexible container of claim 1 where the base includes two triangular sections that extend from the bottom of the base.

16. A flexible container comprising:

a base portion including a bottom, side walls, and an interior, the side walls being defined by at least two sheets of flexible material sealed along two edges and defining two side seams located on opposite sides of the base;

an upper panel portion, that is designed to be received within the interior of the base portion and sealed thereto, the upper panel includes side panels that define a resealable closure member, the upper panel defining a substantially flat surface when the container is in a closed position; and

a pair of handles.

17. The flexible container of claim 16 wherein the pair of handles are upper handles and the base portion includes a pair of lower handles, each lower handle extending from respective corners of the bottom to a lower portion of a respective side.

18. The flexible container of claim 16 wherein the base includes two triangular portions extending from the bottom to a side seam.

19. The flexible container of claim 16 wherein the pair of handles and upper panel are each thermally sealed to the interior of the base portion.

20. The flexible container of claim 16 wherein the closure member includes a hook and loop closure.

21. The flexible container of claim 16 wherein the upper panel portion extends partially below an upper end of the base portion.

22. A flexible container comprising:

a base portion including a bottom, side walls, and an interior, the side walls being defined by at least two sheets of flexible material sealed along two edges and defining two side seams located on opposite sides of the base, the base including two triangular portions each triangular portion extending from the bottom to a side seam;

an upper panel portion, that is designed to be received within the interior of the base portion and includes side panels that define a closure member;

a pair of handles; and

the pair of handles and upper panel are each thermally sealed to the interior of the base portion.

23. The flexible container of claim 22 wherein the closure member includes a hook and loop closure.

24. The flexible container of claim 22 wherein the upper panel portion extends for at least one inch below an upper end of the base portion.

25. The flexible container of claim 22 wherein the container has a substantially cube-like shape when it is closed.

26. A flexible container comprising:

a base portion having a bottom and four side walls defining an interior;

an upper portion bonded to the base portion, the upper portion having a pair of side panels; and

a resealable closure member on each of the pair of side panels, the resealable closure members defining a substantially flat surface in operatively closed configuration and providing a substantially airtight seal, the substantially flat surface rendering the container stackable with other like containers.

27. The flexible container of claim 26 wherein the upper portion is receivable at least partially into the base portion.

28. The flexible container of claim 26 wherein the container is substantially cubic-shaped.

29. The flexible container of claim 26 further comprising:

a pair of handles, each of the pair of handles bonded to the base portion and a respective side panel of the upper portion.

30. A method of making a flexible container having a base portion, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a flat sheet of plastic material having a width substantially equal to a length of the base portion;

indexing the flat sheet in intervals equal to at least a width of the base portion;

bonding a pair of handles to the flat sheet;

providing a pair of panels;

bonding each of the pair of panels to the flat sheet and one of the pair of handles;

applying closure means to a free end of each of the pair of panels; and

forming the flat sheet, pair of panels and pair of handles into the flexible container.

31. The method of making the flexible container of claim 30 further comprising the step of:

applying a peel seal near each end of the flat sheet, each peel seal extending the width of the base portion;

32. The method of making the flexible container of claim 30 wherein the step of bonding each of the pair of panels to the flat sheet and one of the pair of handles is through a thermal bonding process and provides a hermetic seal.

33. The method of making the flexible container of claim 30 wherein the step of providing the flat sheet of plastic material is via a web roll.

34. The method of making the flexible container of claim 30 wherein the step of forming the flexible container provides a substantially cubic-shaped container.