Dual compartment package

Abstract: A package (20) is formed of two compartments (22, 24), both joined at their lower end to a flexible panel (32) so that the package can be self standing.

Description: This invention relates to flexible packages for holding two flowable materials, e.g. pastes, in separate compartments for simultaneous dispensing of such materials from the package. Flexible containers formed of sheet material and containing food products or other air-perishable materials have gained wide acceptance. One common type of flexible package container is the so-called "stand-up" package. That package is arranged to be filled and sealed to isolate the contents of the package from the ambient atmosphere. Typically such packages are formed from a web of flexible stock material, e.g. polyethylene, polyester, polypropylene, metal foil, and combinations thereof in single or multiple plies. See, e.g. US-A-4256256; 4805767; 4886373; 5350240; 5353927; 5407278; 5860743 and 5882120. US 2593608 discloses a dispensing package formed of flexible material having first and second separate compartments. It is capable of providing a supporting base, but is a rigid base, which is restricted in size by the geometry of the panels. It is one object of this invention to provide a dispensing package as described adapted to support itself in a substantially upright orientation on a horizontal surface. According to the invention in one aspect there is provided a package comprising two compartments each formed of flexible walls and a common outlet, at one end, the two compartments being joined at the other end by a flexible panel whereby two filled compartments can be moved apart to make the package self standing. Each compartment has an outer panel and an inner panel which are sealed together along their edges to form the respective compartment and the adjacent edge of the panel is secured to the bottom edges of each compartment. The sides of the panel are secured to the sides of the front and rear panels of each compartment. Preferably the panel has a fold line joining the inner panels of both compartments. Preferably the compartments taper toward the outlet. Preferably the compartments and the panel are formed of thermal bondable material. In a more specific aspect the first outer panel and the first inner panel of the first compartment each have a top portion, a pair of side marginal edges and a bottom edge. The bottom edge of the first outer panel and the first inner panel are secured, e.g. heat sealed or welded, together. The top portion of the first outer panel and the top portion of said first inner panel define a first passageway between them. The second outer panel and the second inner panel of the second compartment each have a top portion, a pair of side marginal edges and a bottom edge. The bottom edge of the second outer panel and the second inner panel are secured, e.g. heat sealed or welded, together. The top portion of the second outer panel and the top portion of the second inner panel define a second passageway between them. The side marginal edges of the first outer panel, the first inner panel, the second outer panel and the second inner panel are all secured, e.g. heat sealed or welded, together. The two compartments are juxtaposed with respect to each other, with the first and second inner panels being disposed in a confronting relationship with each other. The first and second inner panels are arranged to be spaced apart from each other, whereupon the bottom edge of the first compartment and the bottom edge of the second compartment form a wide, stable base for supporting the package in an upright orientation. In order that the invention may be better understood it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the invention and shown in its filled state; Figure 2 is a plan view of one face of the package of Figure 1 drawn to a reduced scale; Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3 - 3 of Figure 1 ; Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4 - 4 of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is an isometric view, partially broken away, showing the empty package of Figure 1. A package 20 is formed of a flexible material and is designed to hold two flowable materials or paste-like products 10A and 10B (Figures 3 and 4) such as two flavours of cake icing in respective compartments 22 and 24. The package 20 includes a port fitment 26 which is connected to the compartments 22 and 24 to enable the two paste-like products 10A and 10B to be dispensed simultaneously from the package through the port by hand squeezing the package. The package 20 can be made of a variety of flexible materials, such as paper, plastic and/or foil materials, in single or multiple layers, as required by the product to be packaged, and provided that such materials can be thermally bonded, e.g. welded, in the manner well known to the flexible packaging industry. The package includes a front panel 28, a rear panel 30 and a bottom gusset panel 32. The front and rear panels are each of the same shape and their designation as being "front" or "rear" is arbitrary. Either or both of the panels may include indicia, e.g. printed matter, thereon. As best shown in Figures 1, 2, and 5 each panel 28 and 30 has a generally linear top edge 34, a generally linear bottom edge 36, and a pair of side edges 38 and 40. The lower portions of the side edges 38 and 40 are linear and extend perpendicularly upward from the bottom edge 36. As shown in Figure 2, the upper portions of the side edges 38 and 40 extend inward at an acute angle and terminate at the top edge 34. The bottom gusset panel 32 (Figures 3 and 4) is secured, e.g. welded, to the bottom edge 36 of the front panel 28 and to the bottom edge 36 of the rear panel 30. The gusset panel 32 includes two sections 42 and 44, each of which is of a similar shape to the front and rear panels 28 and 30. The two sections of the gusset panel 32 are connected at a top fold line 46. The bottom edge of each gusset panel section 42 and 44 is designated by the reference number 48 (Figure 4). These edges are secured to the bottom edges 36 of the front and rear panels 28 and 30. Thus, the bottom edge 48 of the gusset panel section 42 is welded to the bottom edge 36 of the front panel 28 and the bottom edge 48 (Figure 4) of the gusset panel section 44 is welded to the bottom edge 36 of the rear panel 30. Each gusset panel section 42 and 44 has a pair of side edges 50 and 52 which are shaped similarly to the side edges 38 and 40 of the front and rear panels 28 and 30, respectively. In order to form the two compartments 22 and 24 the side edges of the front panel, the rear and the gusset panel are secured, e.g. welded, together. In particular, the side edge 38 of the front panel 28, the side edge 50 of the gusset panel section 42, the side edge 50 of the gusset panel section 44 and the side edge 38 of the rear panel 30 are all welded together along their entire lengths. The side edge 40 of the front panel 28, the side edge 52 of the gusset panel section 42, the side edge 52 of the gusset panel section 44 and the side edge 38 of the rear panel 30 are all welded together along their entire lengths. Thus, one compartment 22 is formed between the sealed marginal edges of the front panel 28 and the immediately adjacent gusset panel section 42. The other compartment 24 is formed between the sealed marginal edges of the rear panel 30 and the immediately adjacent gusset panel section 44. The port fitment or nozzle 26 is of any conventional construction and comprises a canoe-shaped base 54 having a central vertical passageway 56 (Figure 4) terminating at an open outlet port (not shown). The base 54 is welded in position between the upper edges 34 of the front and rear panels 28 and 30, respectively, with the portions of those panels extending beyond the fitment being welded to each other to seal the top of the package 20. The lower end of the central passageway 56 is in communication with an interior zone 58 (Figure 4) of the package 20 immediately above the fold 46 of the gusset panel 32. A cap 62 is releasably secured, e.g. screwed, to the fitment over its outlet port. The zone 58 serves as a merger zone or common space at which the open top portion or passageway of the compartment 22 and the open top portion or passageway of the compartment 24 meet. The materials 10A and 10B within the compartments 22 and 24 can merge within the zone 58 at an interface 60. The compartments (22, 24) are filled with the respective materials and then sealed. To dispense the materials, the cap 62 is removed and the two compartments are squeezed by hand to urge the products 10A and 10B to flow into the zone 58 and then out through the outlet port of the fitment 26. The cap 62 is refitted as appropriate. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the bottom of the package 20 has an "open" configuration because the bottom edge of the front panel 28 is not secured to the bottom edge of the rear panel 30 (the bottom edge of the font panel is secured to the bottom edge of the gusset section 42) and the bottom edge of the rear panel is secured to the bottom edge of the gusset section 44. The bottom portion of compartment 22 can be moved away from the bottom portion of the compartment 24 (except for the marginal edges at which they are joined), whereupon the package forms a "stand pouch". The portions of the bottom of the package which are spread apart form a wide stable base to support the package 20 in an upright position on any horizontal surface, like a shelf 12 as shown in Figure 1. The two compartments 22 and 24 can be physically isolated from each other within the package 20 until their contents are to be dispensed. In such a case the fold line 46 of the gusset panel 32 may be weakly welded to either the front panel 28 or rear panel 30 to create a sealed compartment between the gusset panel and the front or rear panel. The weakened weld will be ruptured by the pressure produced when the package is squeezed to dispense the contents from the sealed chamber to enable the contents of the once-sealed compartment to flow to the port 62. The weld line may be permanent and not rupturable, but the gusset panel section adjacent the weld line can be weakened and rupturable, e.g. perforated, so that upon squeezing the weakened line ruptures to enable the contents of the compartment to flow out. In another such embodiment the top portion of the package includes a weakened line extending across slightly below the top edge 34 and which can be torn to form an open mouth communicating with the zone 58 at the outlet of the two compartments 22 and 24. A gusset panel either weakly welded to the front or rear panel or including a weakened line, as discussed above, may be present to isolate the contents of the two chambers until they are to be dispensed.

Claims: A dispensing package (20) formed of a flexible material and comprising first and second separate compartments (22, 24) said first compartment having a first outer panel (28) and a first inner panel (42), said second compartment having a second outer panel (30) and a second inner panel (44), said first outer panel (28) and said first inner panel (42) each having top portion, and a bottom edge (36, 48), said bottom edge (36, 48) of said first outer panel (28) and said first inner panel (42) being secured together, said top portion of said first outer panel and said top portion of said first inner panel defining a first passageway therebetween, said second outer panel (30) and said second inner panel (44) each having a top portion and a bottom edge (36, 48) said bottom edge of said second outer panel and said second inner panel being secured together, said top portion of said second outer panel and said top portion of said second inner panel defining a second passageway therebetween, said first and second compartments being juxtaposed with respect to each other, with said first and second inner panels (42, 44) being disposed confronting each other wherein said bottom edge of said first compartment can be moved away from, said bottom edge of said second compartment to form a stable base for supporting said package in an upright orientation, characterised in that there further comprises a common outlet coupled to said compartments and arranged to enable the contents of said compartments to be ejected from the package. The package as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the bottom edge of the first compartment defines a flange and the bottom edge of the second compartment defines a second flange, said first and second flanges are oriented to be placed in face contacting arrangement with a supporting surface. The package as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said first outer panel and said first inner panel each having a pair of side marginal edges and said second outer panel and said second inner panel each having a pair of side marginal edges, wherein said side marginal edges (38, 40, 50, 52) of said first outer panel, said first inner panel, said second outer panel, and said second inner panel all being secured together. The package as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the outlet (26) is coupled to said first and second passageways and arranged to enable the contents of each said compartment to be ejected from the package. The package as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the outlet (26) is connected by means of a passageway to an internal zone to allow the material within the zone to merge. The package as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5 additionally comprising a fitment (26) located at said outlet and fixedly secured to said outer panels (28, 30) of said first and second compartments, said fitment including a passageway in communication with said passageways. The package as claimed in Claim 5 wherein said fitment comprises a removable cap (62). The package as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7 wherein said first and second inner panels are formed from a gusset panel having a fold line (46) joining said first and second inner panels. The package as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the fold line (46) can be welded to the first or second outer panel to form a sealed compartment, which weld is adapted to be ruptured when the compartment is squeezed by a user. The package as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 9 wherein each of said compartments tapers toward said outlet. The package as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 10 wherein said flexible material comprises a material enabling the thermal bonding of said panels to each other. The package of Claim 11 wherein said flexible material comprises a plastic material.

Inventors: BEER JEFFREY SCOTT, BEER, JEFFREY SCOTT
Applicants: FRES CO SYSTEM USA INC, FRES-CO SYSTEM USA, INC.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B65D81
IPC codes: B65D75, B65D81, B65D30