Patent ID: 8573445

Claim:
A flexible pouch for containing a product, said flexible pouch comprising: a pouch body having an opening; a tube spout fitment having a passageway having a peripheral edge so as to provide access to the contents of the pouch body, the tube spout fitment mounted to the opening of the pouch body; and a sleeve having a generally tubular body having a diameter, and a first opening opposite a flattened edge, the flattened edge is constrained to an axis, so as define a line, the flattened edge having an inner edge surface opposite an outer edge surface, the tubular body tapering upwardly from the first opening to the inner edge surface of flattened edge so as to define a space within the tubular body adapted to fit the tube spout fitment, the inner edge surface of the flattened edge in communication with the open space and spaced apart from and free of the peripheral edge of the tube spout fitment, the flattened edge extending along the diameter, the first opening adapted to mount onto the tube spout fitment, the sleeve further includes a removable portion disposed above a retained portion relative to the pouch body, a portion of the removable portion mounted over the tube spout, a line of weakening interconnecting the removable portion to the retained portion, the line of weakening over the tube spout fitment, and the line of weakening is a thin walled section of material.