Package with multiple compartments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12409996-B2
Application number	US-202318185766-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 17, 2023
Priority date	Mar 17, 2023
Publication date	Sep 9, 2025
Grant date	Sep 9, 2025

Abstract

The package includes an inner package including a first panel defining a first compartment, the first panel including a first end that is at least partially heat sealed, the first end defining a first tear-point, a second panel defining a second compartment, a first interfacing edge of the first panel being connected to a second interfacing edge of the second panel, the second panel including a second end that is at least partially heat sealed, the second end defining a second tear-point, the first re-closeable seal and the second re-closeable seal being on a third end of the first compartment and a fourth end of the at least one second compartment, respectively.

First claim

We claim:

1. A package, comprising:
an inner package including
a first panel defining a first compartment, the first panel including a first end that is at least partially heat sealed, the first end defining a first tear-point that is configured to allow a first portion of the first end to be removed to allow access to a first re-closeable seal,
a second panel defining at least one second compartment, a first interfacing edge of the first panel being connected to a second interfacing edge of the second panel, the second panel including a second end that is at least partially heat sealed, the second end defining a second tear-point that is configured to allow a second portion of the second end to be removed to allow access to a second re-closeable seal, the at least one second compartment including a first filled compartment containing a first set of pouches with a first quantity of consumer product pouches that are to be consumed during a first expected duration of time based on an average consumption rate, the first expected duration of time being shorter than a second expected duration of time, the second expected duration of time being a time period upon which flavor scalping is expected to occur for the first quantity of the consumer product pouches following an exposure to ambient air, and
the first re-closeable seal and the second re-closeable seal being on a third end of the first compartment and a fourth end of the at least one second compartment, respectively.

2. The package of claim 1 , wherein the first panel and the second panel are configured to be folded onto each other.

3. The package of claim 2 , wherein the first end defines a first slit and the second end defines a second slit, and the first slit and the second slit are configured to align once the first panel and the second panel are folded onto each other.

4. The package of claim 1 , wherein the first compartment includes a first empty compartment that is empty, and the at least one second compartment further includes a second filled compartment containing a second set of pouches.

5. The package of claim 4 , wherein the first empty compartment is a different size than the first filled compartment and the second filled compartment.

6. The package of claim 4 , wherein the second set of pouches also includes the first quantity of consumer product pouches.

7. The package of claim 1 , further comprising:
an outer package,
wherein the inner package is inside the outer package.

8. The package of claim 1 , wherein at least one tear line is defined by the first interfacing edge and the second interfacing edge.

9. The package of claim 1 , further comprising:
an adhesive on at least a portion of a major interfacing surface between each of the first panel and the second panel to hold the inner package in a folded configuration, the folded configuration including the first panel and the second panel being folded onto each other.

10. The package of claim 1 , wherein the first panel includes a plurality of first panels that are subdivided by tear lines, the plurality of first panels defining a plurality of first compartments that are the same as the first compartment.

11. The package of claim 10 , wherein
the plurality of first panels and the second panel are folded onto each other in an accordion configuration, and
the inner package is configured to allow at least one of a first end panel or a second end panel, of the plurality of first panels and the second panel, to be separated and extended from sides of the accordion configuration.

12. The package of claim 11 , wherein at least one tear line is defined by the inner package, the at least one tear line being configured to allow at least one of the first end panel or the second end panel to be removed from a remainder of the inner package.

13. The package of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of first panels and the second panel are made from a recyclable material.

14. The package of claim 11 , wherein
the plurality of first compartments include one or more empty compartments, and
the second panel includes a plurality of second panels that define a plurality of second compartments, each one of the plurality of second compartments being filled compartments containing sets of pouches of a consumer product.

15. The package of claim 1 , wherein the first panel and the second panel are made from a recyclable material.

16. The package of claim 1 , wherein the first panel and the second panel are made from a layer of material, the layer of material including at least one first polymer layer and a gas/moisture impermeable layer, the at least one first polymer layer forming an interior surface of the first compartment and the at least one second compartment.

17. The package of claim 16 , wherein the gas/moisture impermeable layer is a foil layer.

18. The package of claim 1 , wherein
the first panel and the second panel are made from a layer of material that includes at least one gas/moisture impermeable layer, and
an oxygen scavenger is one of enclosed within the first compartment, enclosed within the at least one second compartment, infused within the layer of material, or connected to or infused with an inner layer of the layer of material, the inner layer forming an interior surface of the first compartment and the at least one second compartment.

19. A package, comprising:
an inner package including
a first panel defining a first compartment, the first panel including a first end that is at least partially heat sealed, the first end defining a first tear-point that is configured to allow a first portion of the first end to be removed to allow access to a first re-closeable seal,
a second panel defining at least one second compartment, a first interfacing edge of the first panel being connected to a second interfacing edge of the second panel, the second panel including a second end that is at least partially heat sealed, the second end defining a second tear-point that is configured to allow a second portion of the second end to be removed to allow access to a second re-closeable seal; and

an outer package, the inner package being contained in the outer package,
wherein the first end defines a first slit and the second end defines a second slit, the first panel and the second panel being folded onto each other such that the first slit is aligned with the second slit, and
the outer package defines at least one third slit, the at least one third slit being aligned with the first slit and the second slit,
the first re-closeable seal and the second re-closeable seal being on a third end of the first compartment and a fourth end of the at least one second compartment, respectively.

Assignees

• Altria Client Services Llc

Inventors

• CRAWFORD Danielle
• Williams Dwight David
• Ray Gregory H

Classifications

• B65D81/264

  for absorbing liquids · CPC title

• B65D77/12

  by collapsing and flattening the mouth portion of the container and securing without folding, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, heat-sealing, welding or applying separate securing members · CPC title

• B65D33/14

  Suspension means (handles B65D33/06) · CPC title

• B65D33/008

  Individual filled bags or pouches connected together (B65D33/001, B65D33/002 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65D77/062

  Flexible containers disposed within polygonal containers formed by folding a carton blank · CPC title