Flexible stackable package

• US 9,745,104 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2014
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PrimaPak, LLC
• Original Assignee: Clear Lam Packaging Incorporated (Sonoco Products Company)
• Inventors: Sanfilippo, James J., Sanfilippo, John E., Skaggs, Jeanne M., Soria, Francisco Javier, Radenovic, Milorad, Wyslotsky, Bohdan, Georgelos, Paul, Montefusco, Pat, Speer, Roy, Forowycz, Roman
• Primary Examiner(s): BATTISTI, DEREK J
• Application Number:
  US14/251,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20140307985A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 383203, 383207, 383200, 383205, 383208, 383210, 383 47, 383 48, 3832101, 383211
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2155/00 Flexible containers made from webs
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2160/20 with structural provision for thickness of contents
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2170/20 having multi-layered walls, e.g. laminated or lined
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 70/00 Making flexible containers, e.g. envelopes or bags
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 70/60 Uniting opposed surfaces or edges; Taping
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 61/184 by applying tabs over discharge openings, e.g. over discharge openings defined by tear or score lines
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 9/22 Forming shoulders; Tube formers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/16 End- or aperture-closing arrangements or devices valves of valve bags B65D31/14 ; removable stoppers or caps B65D39/00, B65D41/00; closures of filled bags B65D77/10; closing filled bags in association with packaging B65B7/00, B65B51/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4266 Folding lines, score lines, crease lines
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/5838 combined with separate fixed tearing means, e.g. tabs

Abstract

A flexible, stackable, reclosable container for storing a quantity of products comprising a plurality of walls defined by a first sheet and a second sheet attached to at least a portion of the first sheet. The second sheet extends over at least three of the walls. The opposing container walls each have a sealed portion and one or more tucks, the tucks comprising a portion of the first sheet tucked toward the interior volume. A portion of the second sheet defines a reclosable feature located over an opening for reclosing the container. The second sheet includes a line of reduced strength at or adjacent at least a boundary adjacent the tucks and disposed between the opposing container walls each having the sealed portion and an adjacent container wall. The second sheet can include a hinge about which the reclosable feature pivots from closed position to open position.

Claims

1. A flexible package, comprising:

a plurality of panels that cooperate to define an interior volume of the package, the plurality of panels being defined by a first sheet and comprising;

a first panel disposed between and adjacent to second and third panels disposed transverse to the first panel;

a first boundary line defined by an intersection between the first and second panels; and

a second boundary line defined by an intersection between the first and third panels;

an opening defined in at least one of the first panel, the second panel, or the third panel of the first sheet;

a second sheet attached to the first sheet in (i) the at least one of the first panel, the second panel, and the third panel in which the opening is defined and (ii) a panel adjacent to the at least one of the first panel, the second panel or the third panel in which the opening is defined; and

wherein, the second sheet comprises a line of reduced strength defining a reclosable flap formed by a portion of the second sheet that is separable from a remaining portion of the second sheet, the reclosable flap being pivotable between a first position in which the reclosable flap overlies the opening in the first sheet and a second position in which the reclosable flap is disposed away from the opening in the first sheet such that the opening is exposed, and

wherein the second sheet is attached to less than an entirety of the first sheet and the second sheet has a width that is wider than a width of the reclosable flap and the reclosable flap has a width that is wider than a width of the opening in the first sheet; and

one or more corners formed by the first sheet at one or more terminal ends of at least one of the first boundary line and the second boundary line; and

one or more corner reliefs defined by the second sheet, each of the one or more corner reliefs receiving the one or more corners.

2. The flexible package of claim 1, comprising one or more lines of reduced strength disposed in the second sheet at or adjacent to at least one of the first and second boundary lines of the first sheet.

3. The flexible package of claim 1, wherein the second sheet is attached to the first sheet in at least a portion of the first panel, at least a portion of the second panel, and at least a portion of the third panel.

4. The flexible package of claim 3, comprising one or more lines of reduced strength disposed in the second sheet at or adjacent to the first boundary line.

5. The flexible package of claim 1, wherein the second sheet is attached to the first sheet in at least portions of the first panel and the second panel and the reclosable flap extends across at least a portion of the first panel and at least a portion of the second panel.

6. The flexible package of claim 1, comprising:

a hinge defined by the second sheet such that the reclosable flap of the second sheet pivots about the hinge between the first and second positions; and

one or more projections extending from an end of the reclosable flap at a location proximate to the hinge, the one or more projections having distal ends spaced away from the reclosable flap and being movable with the reclosable flap between a passive position in which the one or more projections occupy generally the same plane as the at least one of the first, second, and third panels in which the opening is defined, and an active position in which the one or more projections are angled relative to at least one of the first, second, and third panels in which the opening is defined such that when in the active position, the distal ends of the one or more projections engage at least one of the first, second, and third panels to maintain the reclosable flap in the second position.

7. The flexible package of claim 1, comprising an adhesive disposed on one or more of the first sheet and the reclosable flap of the second sheet such that the reclosable flap is resealably attached to the first sheet.

8. A flexible package, comprising:

a plurality of panels that cooperate to define an interior volume of the package, the plurality of panels being defined by a first sheet and comprising;

a first panel disposed between and adjacent to second and third panels disposed transverse to the first panel;

a first boundary line defined by an intersection between the first and second panels;

a second boundary line defined by an intersection between the first and third panels;

fourth and fifth panels disposed adjacent to opposite ends of the first panel, and extending between the second and third panels, wherein the fourth panel comprises a leading seal and the fifth panel comprises a trailing seal;

a third boundary line defined by an intersection between the first and fourth panels,

a fourth boundary line defined by an intersection between the first and fifth panels;

a second sheet attached to the first sheet in (i) at least a portion of the first panel and at least one of;

(ii) at least a portion of the second panel and at least a portion of one or both of the fourth and fifth panels, and

(iii) at least a portion of the third panel and at least a portion of one or both of the fourth and fifth panels;

one or more corners defined by the first sheet at one or more terminal ends of at least one of the first boundary line, the second boundary line, the third boundary line, and the fourth boundary line; and

one or more corner reliefs defined by the second sheet, each of the one or more corner reliefs receiving the one or more corners such that the one or more corners extends through the one or more corner reliefs and is exposed through the second sheet,

wherein the second sheet is not attached to the first sheet at the leading and trailing seals.

9. The flexible package of claim 8, wherein the second sheet comprises at least one first extension disposed on the fourth panel adjacent to a fifth boundary line defined by an intersection of the second panel and the fourth panel or adjacent to a sixth boundary line defined by an intersection between the third panel and the fourth panel, and at least one second extension disposed on the fourth panel adjacent to the third boundary line.

10. The flexible package of claim 9, wherein the second sheet is attached to at least portions of the second, third, fourth, and fifth panels and the package comprises:

one or more lines of reduced strength disposed in the second sheet at or adjacent to the first boundary line;

one or more lines of reduced strength disposed in the second sheet at or adjacent to a the second boundary line;

one or more lines of reduced strength disposed in the second sheet at or adjacent to third boundary line;

one or more lines of reduced strength disposed in the second sheet at or adjacent to the fourth boundary line;

one or more lines of reduced strength disposed in the second sheet at or adjacent to the fifth boundary line;

one or more lines of reduced strength disposed in the second sheet at or adjacent to a seventh boundary line define by an intersection between the second panel and the fifth panel;

one or more lines of reduced strength disposed in the second sheet at or adjacent to the sixth boundary line; and

one or more lines of reduced strength disposed in the second sheet at or adjacent to an eighth boundary line defined by an intersection between the third panel and the fifth panel.

11. The flexible package of claim 8, comprising an opening defined in at least portions of the first and second panels of the first sheet.

12. The flexible package of claim 8, wherein the first sheet has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and the second sheet is attached to the second surface of the first sheet.

13. The flexible package of claim 8, wherein the first sheet has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and the second sheet is attached to the first surface of the first sheet.

14. The flexible package of claim 8, comprising one or more lines of reduced strength disposed in the second sheet at or adjacent to at least one of the first boundary line and the second boundary line.

15. The flexible package of claim 8, wherein the second sheet is attached to at least a portion of the second panel and one or both of the fourth and fifth panels, and the second sheet comprises one or more lines of reduced strength disposed at or adjacent to a boundary line defined by an intersection between the second panel and one or both of the fourth and fifth panels.

16. The flexible package of claim 15, wherein the second sheet is attached to a portion of the third panel and one or both of the fourth and fifth panels, and the package comprises one or more lines of reduced strength disposed in the second sheet at or adjacent to a boundary line defined by an intersection between the third panel and one or both of the fourth and fifth panels.

17. The flexible package of claim 16, wherein the one or more lines of reduced strength disposed in the second sheet at or adjacent to the boundary line between the second panel and the one or both of the fourth and fifth panels have a non-linear shape, and the one or more lines of reduced strength disposed in the second sheet at or adjacent to the boundary line between the third panel and the one or both of the fourth and fifth panels have a non-linear shape.

18. The flexible package of claim 8, comprising an opening defined in at least a portion of at least one of the first, second, and third panels, wherein a portion of the second sheet overlies the opening and comprises a reclosable flap that is pivotable from a first position in which the reclosable flap overlies the opening and a second position in which the reclosable flap is disposed away from the opening and the opening is exposed.

19. A flexible package, comprising:

a first panel disposed between second and third panels that are transverse to the first panel;

a first boundary line defined by an intersection between the first and second panels;

a second boundary line defined by an intersection between the first and third panels;

fourth and fifth panels disposed adjacent to opposite ends of the first panel and extending between the second and third panels, wherein the fourth panel comprises a leading seal and the fifth panel comprises a trailing seal and the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth panels are formed from a first sheet;

a third boundary line defined by an intersection between the first and fourth panels;

a fourth boundary line defined by an intersection between the first and fifth panels;

first and second tuck folds disposed adjacent to the third and fourth boundary lines, respectively, the first and second tuck folds defined by portions of the first sheet that are tucked inwardly towards an interior of the package and disposed behind the fourth and fifth panels, respectively;

a second sheet comprising a first portion attached to the first sheet in at least a portion of the first panel, and at least one second portion directly attached to the first sheet in at least a portion of at least one of the first and second tuck folds,

wherein the at least one second portion has a first end disposed adjacent to a boundary between the first panel and the at least one of the fourth and fifth panels and a second end opposite the first end, wherein a width of the at least one second portion at the first end is wider than a width of the at least one second portion at the second end.

20. The flexible package of claim 19, wherein the at least one second portion has a tapered shape, converging from the first end to the second end.

21. The flexible package of claim 19, wherein the second portion is attached to at least a portion of the first tuck fold, and the package comprises one or more lines of reduced strength disposed in the second sheet at or adjacent to the third boundary.

22. The flexible package of claim 21, wherein the second sheet further comprises another second portion attached to at least a portion of the second tuck fold and the package comprises one or more lines of reduced strength disposed in the second sheet at or adjacent to the fourth boundary.