Abstract:
A flexible package with a multiple-opening feature is suitable for retail sale of food products and is comprised of a film material. The flexible package includes two areas of weakness defining two removable top portions. Removal of the first top portion exposes an opening in the flexible package allowing egress of the product through a first opening. Removal of the second top portion exposes a second opening in the flexible package, which, by one approach, is larger than the first opening and thereby permits increased access to the food product.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to packaging, and more particularly to a disposable packaging comprising a pouch having a multiple opening feature. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Flexible film packages are well known in the art and typically comprise disposable pouches commercially produced on high-speed form-fill-seal machines from rolls of plastic film material. The flexible film packages have cavities within which pluralities of contents, such as food products, are stored. Consumers typically open these packages by tearing the plastic film material to access the contents. Moreover, consumers often have varied behaviors when consuming contents from such a package. While some prefer to controllably pour the contents out of the package, others desire to reach into the package to manually remove the contents. A package having a multiple opening feature allows the consumer to create an opening in the package that best suits the individual consumer&#39;s preferred behavior. 
         [0003]    Numerous opening mechanisms for flexible packages are well known in the art. By one approach, flexible packages are opened by simply ripping off the sealed top portion of the package. The package may be notched to facilitate the tearing of the film. This approach gives the consumer little control over the size of the package&#39;s opening. Because the consumer must exert a large amount of force to tear the film material, it is difficult to control the tear so that it extends across only a portion of the package. 
         [0004]    In another approach, flexible packages have zipper seals, such as press-to-close or slider-facilitated. Zippers allow the consumer to vary the size of the package&#39;s opening between fully closed and fully open. The consumer may open only a portion of the zipper seal to control the width of the package opening. However, the zipper seal is easily separated once partially opened. A small force parallel to the zipper causes the zipper to separate. As the consumer accesses the contents of the package or pours the contents of the package out, the seal is often opened further. Thus, the desired opening size is not maintained. 
         [0005]    In yet another approach, flexible packages have a narrowed opening designed to permit controlled pouring. This may be done through use of an integrated spout. In another approach, some flexible packages include a feature to stop the consumer from being able to tear off the entire top of the package. Such an opening may also be facilitated by using a tear line extending across only a portion of the package. In all of the above approaches, the consumer may only controllably create a single-width opening. This configuration, similar to those packages where the entire top seal is separated, does not allow the consumer to select an opening size that best suits the consumer&#39;s desired use of the package. 
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]    The package described herein comprises a flexible pouch having two areas of weakness defining two removable top portions. Removal of the first top portion exposes an opening in the pouch allowing egress of the product contained therein. Removal of the second top portion exposes yet another opening in the pouch allowing egress of the product. In one embodiment, the first opening is smaller than the second opening to facilitate different manners of dispensing the food product. Further, in one illustrative example, the flexible pouch is a hand held pouch that can be comfortably and easily controlled with one hand. 
         [0007]    To commercially produce the flexible package having a multiple opening feature, high-speed form-fill-seal equipment having a vertical or horizontal configuration may be employed. In one embodiment, the packages are formed out of film material in an in-line operation such that areas of weakness are formed at the time the packages are sealed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0008]    The above needs are at least partially met through provision of the flexible package with a multiple opening feature described in the following detailed description, particularly when studied in conjunction with the drawings, wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  comprises a front elevational view of a flexible package as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  comprises a perspective view of the flexible package of  FIG. 1  in an open configuration; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  comprises a perspective view of the flexible package of  FIG. 2  dispensing its contents; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  comprises a perspective view of the flexible package of  FIG. 1  in a second open configuration. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  comprises a rear elevational view of another of the flexible pouch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  comprises a front elevational view of another embodiment of a flexible package configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  comprises a front elevational view of another embodiment of a flexible package configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  comprises a front elevational view of another embodiment of a flexible package configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  comprises a partial perspective view illustrating apparatus as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. 
       
    
    
       [0018]    Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention. It will further be appreciated that certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. It will also be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above except where different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]    Generally speaking, pursuant to these various embodiments, a flexible package having a multiple opening feature is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-8 . The flexible pouch  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , may be used for packaging, for example, particulate food products  12  such as nuts, candy, and cereal. The flexible pouch has a first removable top portion  20  that is in part defined by a first area of weakness  24 . The first area of weakness facilitates removal of the first removable top portion  20 . The flexible pouch additionally has a second removable top portion  30  that is in part defined by a second area of weakness  34 . The second area of weakness  34  facilitates removal of the second top portion  30 . If the first removable top portion  20  has not already been removed, removal of the second removable top portion  30  will also remove the first removable top portion  20 . The flexible pouch  10  may be comprised of a flexible film material that is formed using high-speed form-fill-seal equipment. The flexible pouch may have a variety of seal, folds, and other features as determined by a variety of considerations, such as the products stored in the pouch, consumer use, and the method of manufacturing the pouch, to note but a few. 
         [0020]    In one illustrative embodiment, as depicted in  FIG. 1 , the flexible pouch  10  has a bottom seal  40 , a top seal  44 , and a fin seal  48 . A portion  46  of the top seal  44  overlaps the first area of weakness  24 . Seals  40 ,  44 ,  48  and similar seals may be created by reciprocating heat sealing bars or other suitable sealing apparatus and well known to those skilled in the art. While a variety of flexible pouch configurations are possible, the flexible pouch  10  of  FIG. 1  lacks side seals, which may accommodate the handheld aspect of the flexible pouch such that the user may more conveniently and comfortably grasp the package at the side edges with one hand. 
         [0021]    The areas of weakness  24 ,  34  facilitate removing respective removable top portions  20 ,  30  from flexible pouch  10 . More particularly, the areas of weakness  24 ,  34  may assist the user in initiating and directing the tear that removes the top portions  20 ,  30 . Further, the areas of weakness  24 ,  34  also may assist the user in guiding the tear through the fin seal  48  or other potentially difficult areas. The areas of weakness  24 ,  34  may be created by laser scoring, mechanically, such as by creating perforations, or other similar techniques. In one illustrative embodiment, the areas of weakness  24 ,  34  extend across the entire width of flexible pouch  10 . The positioning of the areas of weakness  24 ,  34  may be determined by a number of factors such as overall size of the package, the food product stored therein, and the desire to ensure sufficient distance between the two areas of weakness  24 ,  34 . 
         [0022]    Depending on the contents  12  of the flexible pouch  10 , it may be desirable for the package to have a hermetic seal. The hermetic seal may be created by the top seal  44  or another seal. Turning now to  FIG. 6 , there is illustrated another embodiment of a flexible pouch  100 . For convenience, features of the alterative embodiments illustrated in the following figures that correspond to features already discussed with respect to  FIGS. 1-5  are identified using the same reference numeral in combination with a numerical prefix such that flexible pouch ‘ 10 ’ becomes flexible pouch ‘ 110 .’ The flexible pouch  110 , like pouch  10 , includes a top seal  144  and a bottom seal  140 . Flexible pouch  110  also includes a resealable seal  160  disposed between the area of weakness  134  and the contents of the pouch  12 . The resealable seal  160  may be, for example, a press-to-close zipper or a resealable adhesive seal. Such an embodiment functions similarly to the previously discussed embodiments, except after removable of either removable top portion  120  or removable top portion  130 , the package may be resealed. By one approach, the contents  12  may retain freshness well after the first and second removable top portions  20 ,  30  have been removed from the pouch  110  by permitting the pouch  110  to be resealed. Further, by having a resealable seal  160  disposed between the area of weakness  234  and the contents  12 , the resealable seal  160  may provide the hermetic seal to retain the freshness of the contents  12 . 
         [0023]    The consumer may accesses the contents of the flexible pouch  10  by removing one or both removable top portions  20 ,  30 . Area of weakness  24  facilitates the removal of the first top portion  20  ensuring that the removable top portion  20  separates from the flexible pouch  10  in a controlled manner along a predetermined path.  FIG. 2  depicts flexible pouch  10  after removable first top portion  20  of  FIG. 1  has been removed. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , an aperture  26  is exposed by removal of removable first top portion  20  ( FIG. 1 ). Aperture  26  permits dispensing contents  12  from the flexible pouch by pouring as depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0024]    Similar to area of weakness  24 , area weakness  34  facilitates the removal of the second top portion  30  ensuring that the removable top portion  30  separates from the flexible pouch  10  in a controlled manner along a predetermined path.  FIG. 4  depicts flexible pouch  10  after removable second top portion  20  of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  has been removed. An aperture  36  is exposed by removal of removable second top portion  30  of  FIG. 1 . Aperture  36  permits dispensing contents  12  from the flexible by pouring or by a consumer reaching into the flexible pouch to remove food contents  12 , such as by hand 
         [0025]    To create two differently sized apertures  26 ,  36 , a number of configurations are contemplated. By one approach illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the top seal  44  has an asymmetrical configuration such that a portion of the top seal  44  extends below a portion of the first area of weakness  24 . In this configuration, the top seal has an upper portion  44   a  above the first area of weakness  26  and a lower portion  44   b  positioned below the first area of weakness  26  but terminating above the second area of weakness  36 . Other configurations discussed below having top seals  44  with similar but different configurations. It is also contemplated that such differently sized apertures or openings  26 ,  36  could also be created by employing non-linear areas of weakness or non-parallel areas of weakness. 
         [0026]    Turning now to  FIG. 7 , another embodiment of a flexible pouch  210  is illustrating having a top seal  244 , a bottom seal  240 , a fin seal  248 , and areas of weakness  224  and  234 . In addition, flexible pouch  210  may also include a tear initiation feature  50 ,  51  at the edges of the areas of weakness  224  and  234  such as that shown in  FIG. 7 . The tear initiation feature  50 ,  51  may be, for example, v-notches or slit-notches. The tear initiation features  50 ,  51  are aligned such that they initiate a tear along the line of the areas of weakness  224  and  234 . Such features further aid in the ease and controlled opening of the package. 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , another embodiment of a flexible pouch  310 , similar to pouch  210  is illustrated. In addition to the tear initiation features  350 ,  351 , flexible pouch  310  also has a top seal  344  that slants downward toward and past the lower tear initiation feature  351 . Thus, the tear initiation feature  351  does not interfere with the hermetic seal of the flexible pouch  210  and, further, a lower edge  362  of the top seal  344  may guide the contents  12  of the flexible pouch  310  to the aperture  26  created with the first top portion  20  is removed. 
         [0028]    A variety of manufacturing methods are available to commercially produce the multiple-opening flexible pouches and one illustrative example will be discussed herein. The flexible pouches may be made in a high-speed form-fill-seal (FFS) operation that produces up to 800 packages per minute. By one approach, the FFS operation may be on a vertical FFS machine, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . The areas of weakness may also be created in variety of ways, including laser-scoring or perforation, in-line or by an add-on module to the FFS operation. 
         [0029]    In one illustrative embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 , the flexible pouches are made in a vertical FFS or bagging line. A series of flexible pouches is formed from a roll of film  48 , such that the front and back panels of the film material define a cavity. By one approach, a web of the rolled film material is fed over a folding shoulder  50  such as a forming collar and mandrel to provide it with a tubular shape. Opposite longitudinal edges of the film are brought together around the fill tube  49 . The longitudinal edges are sealed, such as by a seal tool  52  to form a fin seal, or overlapped to form a lap seal. A bottom seal for the pouch is also formed by the reciprocating sealing tool  56 , which may include a pair of reciprocating sealing bars. The reciprocating sealing bars are heat sealing bars maintained at a desired temperature to apply heat and pressure to the front and rear walls. Further, the heat seal bars are brought together on opposite sides of the tubular web so that heat is conductively transferred to the film from both sides while pressure is applied. The sealing bars may be used in an intermittent or continuous operation. In an intermittent operation, the film is stopped while the sealing bars engage the film. In a continuous operation, the sealing bars may move vertically at the machine speed as they engage the film. In addition, sealing tool  56  separates the bottom pouch from the upper pouch. Once the operation is complete and the upper pouch has been filled with food product, the upper pouch advances downward and becomes the bottom pouch that to which curved semi-rigid strips are attached. 
         [0030]    After a bottom seal is formed in the flexible pouch, the partially formed flexible pouch is then filled with food product, which is introduced into the pouch via the fill tube  49 . In one embodiment, an area of weakness is formed in the flexible pouches to define a removable top portion. By one approach, a notch, score line, or other feature to facilitate removal of the top portion of the package may then be formed near the top of the pouch. A hermetic seal may also be created in the flexible pouch. The formed, filled, and sealed pouch then advances downward as the next pouch is formed, filled, and sealed, resulting in a chain or connected series of filled, sealed pouches advancing in the machine direction intermittently or continuously. The flexible pouches are then separated from one another, such as, for example, by a reciprocating knife. 
         [0031]    There are a variety of alternative steps to those described in this vertical FFS operation. Also, high speed techniques may be employed instead of application of heat and pressure by heat seal bars as described above. For example, RF energy, ultrasonic energy or other techniques may be employed. 
         [0032]    The film material or substrate of the flexible pouch may be formed as a polymeric sheet of various plastic polymers, copolymers, co-extrusions and/or laminations. Further, the film material may be a monolayer polymeric film or a multilayer laminate comprising an outer layer of durable material and one or more inner barrier layers and sealant layers. The multilayer combination may be comprised of polyolefin such as polyethylene (high, medium, low, linear low, and/or ultra low density polymers including metallocene), polypropylene (oriented and/or biaxially oriented); polybutylene; ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA); polyamides (oriented and/or biaxially oriented) such as nylon; polyethylene terephthalate (oriented and/or biaxially oriented); polyvinyl chloride; ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH); polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC); polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH); polystyrene; or combinations thereof. In addition, adhesive tie layers may also be used. 
         [0033]    Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect to the above described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept.