Flexible Containers with Easily Variable Sizing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016176583-A1
Application number	US-201514973835-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 18, 2015
Priority date	Dec 19, 2014
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Non-durable self-supporting flexible containers with easily variable sizing. Line ups of flexible containers have similar sizes, shapes, and constructions, but hold differing amounts of fluent product at unexpected fill heights.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of making a line-up of flexible containers for one or more fluent products, the method comprising:
first, forming a first disposable self-supporting flexible container having a first support frame with a first predetermined volume of a first expansion material sealed inside the first container and the first container having a first product space with a first predetermined total capacity, wherein the first forming includes:
sealing one or more first flexible materials to make a first particular sealed configuration, and
using the first particular sealed configuration in the forming of the first container; and
second, forming a second disposable self-supporting flexible container having a second support frame with a second predetermined volume of a second expansion material sealed inside the second container, wherein the second predetermined volume is greater than the first predetermined volume, and the second container having a second product space with a second predetermined total capacity, which is less than the first predetermined total capacity, wherein the second forming includes:
sealing one or more second flexible materials to make a second particular sealed configuration, which is substantially the same as the first particular sealed configuration; and
using the second particular sealed configuration in the forming of the second container.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second predetermined volume is 10-1000% more than the first predetermined volume.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second predetermined volume is 20-500% more than the first predetermined volume.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second predetermined volume is 30-100% more than the first predetermined volume.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first predetermined volume of the first expansion material is sealed inside the first container at a first internal expansion pressure; the second predetermined volume of the second expansion material is sealed inside the second container at a second internal expansion pressure, which is within 85% of the first internal expansion pressure.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the second expansion pressure is within 50% of the first expansion pressure.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the second expansion pressure is within 20% of the first expansion pressure.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first expansion material and the second expansion material are at least essentially the same.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first expansion material and the second expansion material are the same.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second predetermined total capacity is 5-70% less than the first predetermined total capacity.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second predetermined total capacity is 10-60% less than the first predetermined total capacity.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second predetermined total capacity is 15-50% less than the first predetermined total capacity.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first predetermined volume of the first expansion material is sealed inside a first structural support frame of the first container; and the second predetermined volume of the second expansion material is sealed inside a second structural support frame of the second container.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second particular sealed configuration is the same as the first particular sealed configuration.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first flexible container is a stand-up container; and the second flexible container is a stand-up container.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the forming of the first container is performed on a particular machine; and the forming of the second container is performed on the particular machine.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the particular machine has a particular set of unit operations for sealing; and the forming of the first container is performed on the particular machine, using at least some of the particular set of unit operations for sealing; and the forming of the second container is performed on the particular machine, using at least some of the particular set of unit operations for sealing.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein:
the particular machine has a particular set of unit operations for sealing; and the forming of the first container is performed on the particular machine, using each of the particular set of unit operations for sealing; and the forming of the second container is performed on the particular machine, using each of the particular set of unit operations for sealing.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein:
the particular machine has a particular set of unit operations for sealing; and the method includes switching the particular machine from forming the first container to forming the second container, without changing parts in any of the unit operations for sealing.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein:
the particular machine has a particular set of unit operations for sealing; and
the method includes switching the particular machine from forming the first container to forming the second container, without mechanically adjusting any of the unit operations for sealing.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Ishihara Tadayoshi
• Lester Joseph Craig
• Clare Benjamin Jacob
• Bourgeois Marc Richard
• Giachetto Richard Matthew
• Broad Gavin John
• Stanley Scott Kendyl
• Mcguire Kenneth Stephen
• Arent Jr Lee Mathew
• You Jun
• Berg Jr Charles John

Classifications

• B65B3/04

  Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles · CPC title

• B65D35/02 Primary

  Body construction · CPC title

• B65D75/008 Primary

  Standing pouches, i.e. "Standbeutel" · CPC title

• B65D33/02

  Local reinforcements or stiffening inserts, e.g. wires, strings, strips or frames {(B65D33/007 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B65D2203/00

  Decoration means, markings, information elements, contents indicators · CPC title