Abstract:
A flexible container includes a free-standing pouch with a divider to separate the pouch into compartments to keep the contents from mixing. The flexible container may include a recloseable seal and a reinforced handle.

Description:
[0001]     The present invention relates to containers and, more particularly, to a flexible pouch with one or more dividers to keep the food or other items separated.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Containers for carrying, storing and packaging food and items are generally known in the art. Containers are made from various materials such as plastic, glass and metal, for example. Self-serve or over-the-counter deli plastic containers typically include a tab with a snap-seal lid. These types of containers can be difficult to handle and may flex when carrying a large amount of food or if the food is hot. Additionally, these containers may not have dividers to keep the contents from mixing which necessitates use of two or more containers to carry different food items.  
         [0003]     Conventional flexible packing for food, such as plastic pouches, generally does not include dividers or compartments within the package. Some flexible packages have included panels secured to a side of the package to form a pouch within the internal cavity of the package.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention provides a flexible package with one or more dividers which may be positioned within the cavity of the package during manufacturing. The dividers separate the cavity into compartments to keep foods or other items separated. The package may include a carrying handle and a resealable closure.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of an unfolded plastic sheet with fold lines indicated.  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the sheet of  FIG. 1  with a handle portion folded on each end.  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  is a perspective end view of the sheet of  FIG. 2  folded along the indicated fold lines.  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of an unfolded divider with fold lines indicated.  
         [0009]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the divider of  FIG. 4  shown folded.  
         [0010]      FIG. 6  is a front view of the divider of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0011]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the folded sheet of  FIG. 3  with the folded divider of  FIG. 5  inserted.  
         [0012]      FIG. 8  is the sheet of  FIG. 7  with seals shown to form a pouch.  
         [0013]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged perspective view of the pouch of  FIG. 8  shown open to view the cavity and divider.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a sheet of flexible materially is generally indicated by reference numeral  10 . Sheet  10  is generally constructed of a suitable material such as polyethylene, polyester, polypropylene or polyethylenes laminated, or coextruded, with other materials such as nylon, polyester and the like films, for example. It should be understood to one skilled in the art that other materials and films may be used as necessary for the particular application. Sheet  10  includes a front panel  12 , a back panel  14 , and a bottom panel  16 . Reinforced handle panels  18  and  20  are separated from front  12  and back  14  panels by locking strips  22  and  24 , respectively.  
         [0015]     Bottom panel  16  is separated from the front panel  12  by a fold line  26 . Bottom panel  16  is separated from the back panel  14  by a fold line  28 . Bottom panel  16  is also divided in half by fold line  30 . Reinforced handle panel  18  is folded along fold line  32  and reinforced handle panel  20  is folded along fold line  34  to provide a double layer of material along the open edge of the pouch.  
         [0016]     When the sheet  10  is folded along the fold lines as shown in  FIG. 3 , the sheet  10  is formed into an open generally W-shaped channel.  
         [0017]     Referring to  FIGS. 4-6 , a divider sheet is generally indicated by reference numeral  40 . Divider sheet  40  may be constructed of any suitable sheet material such as the materials indicated hereinabove for sheet  10 , for example. Sheet  40  may be folded in half along fold line  42  by folding edges  44  and  46  together to form edge  48  and folded along fold lines  50 ,  52  and  54  by folding edges  45  and  47  together to form gussets  56  and  58  and a closed generally W-shaped member shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0018]     Referring to  FIGS. 7-9 , the folded divider sheet  40  is inserted into W-shaped channel of the folded sheet  10  with each gusset  56  and  58  of the divider sheet  40  straddling the fold line  30  in the bottom panel  16 . Divider sheet  40  may be positioned anywhere along the fold line  30  to divide the pouch into compartments of the desired size. Additional divider sheets  40  (not shown) may be inserted to divide the pouch into multiple compartments.  
         [0019]     Once the divider sheet  40  is in place the front  12 , back  14  and bottom  16  panels may be joined to form a pouch  100  with an inner cavity  102 . Divider sheet  40  separates the cavity  102  into compartments  104  and  106 . The cross-hatching in  FIG. 8  generally denotes the seal lines which are further described herein.  
         [0020]     Preferably, the package  100  is formed into a standing pouch. The outside edges  108  and  110  are bonded together by applying a heat sealing bar or other device. Likewise, a heat sealing bar is applied to the corners  112  and  114  to form gussets to strengthen the bottom corners of the pouch  100 . A heat sealing bar is applied to form a seal  115  along the free edge and overlap areas of the handle reinforcing panels  18  and  20  through which a pair of handle holes  116  and  118  are punched.  
         [0021]     Finally, the divider sheet  40  is sealed to the front  12 , back  14  and bottom  16  panels along the free edges  44 ,  45 ,  46  and  47 . By applying a heat sealing bar along seam  120  divider  40  is securely sealed to the side panel  12 , the bottom panel  16  along seam  122 , and the opposite side panel  14  along seam  124 .  
         [0022]     The food pouch  100  with the divider  40  may be used to transport separate food items conveniently without having to carry separate containers and without the food items mixing. For example, in compartment  104 , hot mashed potatoes may be placed and in compartment  106 , brown gravy for the mashed potatoes may be placed. The mashed potatoes and gravy may be conveniently transported in one food pouch  100  without mixing.  
         [0023]     It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto, except in so far as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable equivalents thereof.