Patent Publication Number: US-2021171270-A1

Title: Stand up object shaped pouch

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 62/943,869 filed on Dec. 5, 2019. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     A standup flexible pouch for holding contents and more particularly, a standup pouch having two legs, each having a bottom gusset. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is known to provide stand up pouches for holding contents from flexible film. The film is typically a laminate formed from layers of flexible material. These pouches, known as doyen pouches, are formed by sealing the edges and mounting a bottom gusset between two panels of film. The gusset is sealed in such a manner that when the pouch is filled, material pushes the panels apart to form an ovate shaped bottom. The pouch has a generally triangular cross section from top to bottom. It is also known to curve the shape of the side edges. However for marketing purposes, it is desirable to provide distinctive shapes for particular products. Accordingly it is desirable to provide standard pouches which can be formed in a variety of shapes such as letters or numerals which can represent the contents inside the pouch. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A standup flexible pouch for holding contents is formed in a shape to represent an object such as a letter or numeral. The pouch has a lower portion including a pair of legs. Each leg has a gusset for supporting the pouch in an upright position. A bridge portion connects the legs. A pair of arms form an upper portion which extend above the bridge. The pouch has one opening mechanism such as tear off portion or a fitment. The opening mechanism is positioned at the top of an arm. Frangible seals can be used to form compartments for different types of contents. At least sixty percent of the weight of the contents must be below a horizontal center line of the pouch. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an object shaped pouch; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the object shaped pouch of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the object shaped pouch with a tear off strip and a permanent seal; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the object shape with a open passageway through a bridge; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of an object shaped pouch with a fitment and frangible seals crossing one leg and the bridge; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of an object shaped pouch with frangible seals across an arm and across the bridge. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of a pouch having a tear strip and frangible seals crossing one leg and the bridge; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of a pouch having a sealed bridge. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a standup pouch  10  is formed in a shape to represent objects such as letters and numerals. The pouch is formed from a front panel  12  and rear panel  14  of a flexible film. The film is typically a laminate of layers of materials such as PET/LLDPE, aluminum, nylon, etc. The pouch and method of forming will be described to form the letter “H.” however, many letters or numerals can be made according to this method. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the flexible pouch includes a lower portion  16 , an upper portion  18  and a bridge portion  24 . The lower portion  16  has two leg portions  20 ,  22 . The bridge portion  24  extends between the legs portions  20 ,  22 . Each of the two leg portions  20 ,  22  has a bottom gusset  26  so that the pouch can stand. The upper portion  18  has a pair of arms,  28 ,  30  each arm extending above a leg portion  20 ,  22 . 
     The front panel  12  and back panel  14  which are sealed together along peripheral side edges  32  at least one forming compartments A and B for holding contents. Compartments A and B may be connected across the bridge portion  24  or separated by permanent of frangible seals as discussed below. 
     Cut-outs  36 ,  38  are formed in the panels by die cutters. The cut out  36  extends vertically from a bottom of the panels and cut out  38  extends downwardly from a top of the panels to form the bridge portion  24 . The bridge portion  24  permits the pouches to be folded for transportation and storage. The bridge portion  24  can communicate contents between the two leg portions  20 ,  22 . 
     The gusset panel  26  is sealed into a bottom of each leg portion, such that when the pouch is filled, the panels separate and the gusset panel forms a bottom of the pouch. A lower portion  40  of each leg portion  20 ,  22  forms a generally oval shape around the gusset panel  26  to support the pouch  10 . It has been found that it is advantageous to form an arc or curve in the side edges  44  of one of the sides. The size of the gusset and the curves assist in controlling the volume of the compartments. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an opening mechanism such as a fitment  46  is mounted in a top of at least one of the arms  28 . In some cases, each arm is provided with an opening mechanism. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the fitment  46  includes a canoe  48  which is sealed between the front panel  12  and rear panel  14 . The fitment also includes a threaded spout  50 . A cap  52  is threadably mounted to the spout  50  and has a tamper evident strip  54  that ruptures when the cap  50  is twisted. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the opening mechanism can be a tear strip  56  formed by a pair of notches  58  for facilitating removal of a top portion of the arm. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a frangible seal  60  may extend across the bridge portion  24  to separate compartment A from compartment B. This permits a first component such as a liquid to be held in compartment A and a second component to be held in compartment B. At the time of use, the frangible seal  60  is burst by squeezing the pouch and the first and second components can then be mixed within the pouch  10 . After mixing, the cap  52  is removed to provide access to the mixed contents. The first component is filled through the fitment and an open top of component B is filled into the second compartment and a permanent seal  62  is formed across the top of the second arm  30 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the pouch may be formed with no frangible seal so that the same material is filled in both the compartments. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , it is necessary to maintain a number of relationships in order to permit the pouch  10  to stand properly. At least 60% of the weight of the contents must be below a horizontal center line “c” of the pouch. The center line is one half of a total vertical height “h” of the volume of the pouches. Additionally, the center of the bridge must be at or above the center line “c” of the pouch and a height “o” of the lower cut out is preferably about 40% of the total height “h.” The heights of the gusset, the width of the legs and the curve of the sides may be adjusted to allow for different volumes within the compartments A and B. 
     As discussed below, a variety of compartment arrangements can be formed using frangible or permanent seals. This permits various configurations for holding a variety of products. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a permanent seal  62  can be formed on the top of compartment B, the height of the permanent seal  62  can be adjusted depending on the volume of the contents to filled into compartment B. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the pouch can have one or more straight side edges  64  and the frangible seal  60  can be located opening to the bridge on the side of compartment B. Compartment C is formed by a frangible seal which extends across the lower portion of one leg. A fitment  46  is provided on one arm  20 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , a frangible seal can be formed across one of the legs and across the bridge. Notches  58  for a tear strip  56  are provided. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , a permanent seal  76  may be formed in the bridge. This arrangement is useful when the compartments will be filled with different components that are not mixed. Separate tear notches  58  are provided on the tops of the arms. 
       FIG. 6  shows a frangible seal  74  cross the upper portion of the arm  22 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , a frangible seal can be formed across one of the legs  22 . A frangible seal  70  can be formed across the bridge. 
     Other letters and objects can be formed for instance the letter “A”, “K”, “R” “W”, and “X”. For the letter “A”, the two arms are angled together and connected at the top. For the letter “K”, one arm extends at an angle from the bridge.