Abstract:
The invention relates to a disposable baby food pouch with spout and zip lock feature, having a function for storing, transporting, and serving baby food. The food pouch promotes expeditious storage and serving of baby food.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 13/597,092 filed on Aug. 28, 2012. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a disposable, portable and reusable baby food pouch with spout and zip lock. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Prior Art 
         [0005]    Baby food pouches present a convenient and portable option for feeding babies while at home or travelling. The disposable and flexible nature of these pouches provides a hassle free solution towards storage. There are many designs and configurations of baby food pouches available in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,205 to Hammond, et al. (1989) discloses a baby feeding pack comprising a pouch like bag for containing liquid infant food having walls of flexible plastic sheets and a gusset which is sealed to the walls, carrying a teat with a removable closure. While Hammod&#39;s plastic pouch presents a portable way to dispense liquid baby food but it lacks the ability to dispense semi-solid and viscous baby food through the attached teat system which could potentially cause choking hazard upon dispensing such food items. U.S. Pat. No. 6,991,121 to Kipperman et al. (2006) discloses an infant feeding pouch with collapsible walls and a nipple for feeding an infant but lack features that makes a pouch reusable after feeding, also dispensing semi-solid food stuff from the nipple is rather difficult and causes nipple clogging. U.S. Pat. Application No. 20080138000 to Miller et al. (2008) discloses a disposable food packaging for feeding an infant, having round corners to permit easy insertion and removal from crowded diaper bag, purse etc. While Miller&#39;s pouch is flexible and portable but cannot be reused. Additionally, it lacks a well defined spout mechanism to deliver the food contents to the infant. 
         [0006]    While the abovementioned patents fulfil their intended purpose but do not present a baby food pouch which is reusable, having a spout and zip lock mechanism and specially fit for dispensing semi-solid baby food items. Hence, the present invention is a substantial improvement over the existing prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]    The present object of invention is a squeezable baby food pouch with spout and zip lock. The present invention offers advantage and significant improvement over existing prior art in terms of reusability of the pouch and the ability of the pouch to dispense semi-solid and viscous baby food items. The pouch is designed to create a convenient system for storage, transport, and serving of baby food. An important aspect of this invention lies in providing a separate spout as well as a zip lock device at the top section of the pouch to pour the food in and out of the pouch and providing an air tight seal during storage and transportation. 
         [0008]    According to one aspect of the present invention, the pouch comprises a squeezable baby food pouch with a zip lock or slider assembly on the top, running horizontally along the top section of the pouch with a capped plastic spout directly underneath the zip-lock device on the vertical face of the pouch. The spout facilitates pouring, serving and dispensing baby food from the pouch. The spout could be easily attached to the attachable baby feeding spoon in order to dispense the baby food content from the pouch into the mouth of the baby. 
         [0009]    According to another aspect of present invention, the pouch consists of two flexible plastic sheet sidewalls sealed to one another to define an opening on the top. The horizontal bottom and sides of the pouch consist of expandable flexible plastic sheets forming a gusset which, when not in use, collapses. When the pouch is full with baby food contents, the bottom and side gussets are expanded, enlarging the pouch. The expanded bottom gusset allows the base to support the pouch itself when placed on a flat surface. 
         [0010]    According to yet another aspect of present invention, the zip lock in open configuration facilitates easy insertion of baby food into the pouch. Upon closing the zip lock, the pouch is sealed and air tight for storage. The baby food pouch may come in various styles i.e. with or without a slider option, with or without side gussets. The baby food pouch&#39;s bottom gusset may have a variety of styles, for e.g. K-seal gusset, round bottom gusset and plough bottom gusset style. The baby food pouch can be reused, disposed, refrigerated or micro waved as per the user needs. 
         [0011]    According to yet another aspect of present invention, rounded corners make the pouch safe for handling. Bottom and side gusset styles provide enhanced capacity and overall strength to the pouch. Thus, the pouch provides a caregiver, an all in one solution to store and serve baby food. Home-made or purchased food such as soups, baby food or semi-solid food are poured into the pouch through the zip-lock opening which is sealed during storage and transportation. While serving, the cap on the spout is removed and food is ejected through the spout by squeezing main body of the pouch whilst the zip lock is closed. 
         [0012]    According to yet another aspect of present invention, air may be ejected from the spout and zip lock when the pouch is in an open configuration. An air vacuum is created when the zip lock device is in a closed configuration and cap is screwed onto the spout creating an airtight seal which further assist in keeping the food contents of the pouch fresh during storage. 
         [0013]    For a better understanding of the present invention, the matter disclosed henceforth will describe the invention and its preferred embodiments in the best possible manner. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0014]    The embodiments of the present invention can be better understood with the help of accompanying drawings wherein; 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  shows a front view of the baby food pouch with spout and zip lock. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  shows a bottom view of the baby food pouch. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  shows a side view of the baby food pouch. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  shows a cross sectional view of the zip lock used in the baby food pouch with grooves unlocked. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  shows another cross sectional view of the zip lock used in the baby food pouch with grooves locked in. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the baby food pouch with side gusset. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  shows a front view of baby food pouch with a feeding spoon attached at the spout. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]    With reference to the drawings, in  FIG. 1 , a disposable food pouch  2  is illustrated. The pouch  2  is made of a flexible plastic or durable material. The main body of the pouch  2  consist of two flexible plastic sheets  8  and  9  (as seen in  FIG. 2 ) which are fused together at the edges  5  forming an airtight and waterproof seal.  FIG. 1  also illustrates a zip lock  4  running horizontally along the top section of the pouch with a plastic spout  3  directly underneath the zip-lock  4  on the vertical face of the pouch  2 . During storage, spout  3  can be covered with a cap  13 . Spout  3  is designed to be a food content dispenser or an outlet. Spout  3  is fixed to the main body of the pouch  2  by being fused to the inner layers of the two main flexible plastic sheets  8  and  9  (as seen in  FIG. 2 ). Spout  3  can be attached to an attachable baby feeding spoon in order to dispense baby food from the pouch  2  into the mouth of the baby. 
         [0023]    In  FIG. 1 , spout  3  may include a thread  12  which is used to screw on cap  13  to temporarily seal the outlet and prevent baby food from escaping. Thus, creating an airtight seal during transportation, storage and handling of the pouch. The surface of baby food pouch  2  bears a measuring guide  15  to measure right quantity of baby food and a labelling panel  16  to label date or names on the surface of pouch  2 . A hang hole  14  is provided at a corner on the top of baby food pouch  2 . Hang hole  14  may be used to conveniently attach the pouch to a pram. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  illustrates the bottom view of the pouch  2 . The side walls formed by flexible plastic sheets  8  and  9  of the pouch  2  can further include a fold  6  on the bottom gusset  19  that further allows the dimensions of the pouch  2  to vary depending on whether the pouch  2  is empty or full and/or whether the top of the pouch  2  is opened or sealed. The bottom section of the pouch  2  can have a greater diameter than the top of the pouch  2 , this further allows the pouch  2  to stand upright and unassisted while being filled with baby food contents. This is an important feature of the invention. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  depicts a side view of the pouch  2  with two flexible plastic sheets  8  and  9 , an outlet spout  3  and a zip lock  4 .  FIG. 3  further illustrates the self standing design of the pouch  2  when the pouch  2  is filled with baby food contents. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  depicts a cross section of zip lock  4 . The zip lock  4  includes a zip fastener  10  integrally attached to flexible plastic sheet  9  and a locking groove  11  integrally attached to flexible plastic sheet  8 . The zip fastener  10  locks into the coupling or locking groove  11  when the pouch is sealed or closed from the top. The zip lock  4  is positioned at the top section of the pouch  2  and is fused to the side walls formed by flexible plastic sheets  8  and  9  in a lengthwise direction. The positioning of the zip lock  4  is such that it is sandwiched between the two main walls formed by plastic sheets  8  and  9  so that it forms an air tight seal when pouch  2  is closed. 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  further depicts a cross section of zip lock  4  wherein the zip fastener  10  is locked into the locking groove  11 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  illustrates the perspective view of another style of baby food pouch  2  with side gusset  18 . Side gusset  18  adjustably allows the pouch  2  to hold more quantity of baby food. Measuring guide  15  and a labelling panel  16  lie on the surface of pouch  2 . A slider  17  on zip lock  4  aids in sealing and opening of the baby food pouch  2 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 7  illustrates a front view of baby food pouch  2  with a feeding spoon  20  attached at the spout  3 . Baby food pouch  2  collapses upon squeezing and hence dispense the food contents from spout  3  into the baby feeding spoon  20 . Spout  3  includes thread  12  which is further used to cap spout&#39;s mouth. 
         [0030]    While the written description of the invention describes the invention in the best possible mode thereof, it is expected that the ordinary skilled in the art reckons the variations, modifications and combinations of the preferred embodiments. Therefore, the invention shall not be construed as limiting by the mentioned embodiments, methods, examples, terminologies or phraseologies, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and ambit of the invention claimed.