Patent ID: 7284360

Claim:
A method for forming a container containing flowable material comprising the steps of: providing a flexible container filled with flowable material and having a top and a bottom; suspending the filled flexible container from the top without supporting the bottom wherein the flexible container also includes a longitudinal axis extending between the top and the bottom, the flexible container also defining a plurality of cross-sections around the longitudinal axis and wherein each of the plurality of cross-sections has a first configuration when the filled, flexible container is suspended; transferring a weight of the filled flexible container from being suspended at the top without supporting the bottom to being supported at the bottom by a support surface; and incrementally applying a hoop force to the flexible container from the bottom to the top along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis to at least substantially maintain and/or reduce the cross-sections disposed along the portion of the longitudinal axis during the transferring of the filled flexible container from being suspended at the top without supporting the bottom to being supported at the bottom by the support surface.