Flexible containers with easily variable sizing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9694942-B2
Application number	US-201514973822-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2015
Priority date	Dec 19, 2014
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

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 line-up of flexible containers for retail sale of one or more fluent products, the line-up comprising:
a first disposable self-supporting flexible container, configured for retail sale, wherein the first container includes:
a first product space having a first product space construction that is based, at least in part, on a first folding pattern;
a first external amount indicium that indicates a first listed amount of a first fluent product that is being offered for sale with the first container; and
a first actual amount of the first fluent product, disposed in the first product space, wherein the first actual amount is nearly equal to the first listed amount;
a first closed fill height for the first fluent product in the first product space;

a second disposable self-supporting flexible container, configured for retail sale, wherein the second container includes:
a second product space having a second product space construction that is based, at least in part, on a second folding pattern that is substantially the same as the first folding pattern;
a second external amount indicium that indicates a second listed amount of a second fluent product that is being offered for sale with the second container, wherein the second listed amount is a particular percentage less than the first listed amount, and the particular percentage is greater than or equal to 0.1% and less than or equal to 70%;
a second actual amount of the second fluent product, disposed in the second product space, wherein the second actual amount is nearly equal to the second listed amount; and
a second closed fill height for the second fluent product in the second product space, wherein the second closed fill height is greater than or equal to the first closed fill height.

2. The line-up of claim 1 , wherein the particular percentage is greater than or equal to 1% and less than or equal to 60%.

3. The line-up of claim 1 , wherein the second closed fill height is greater than and about equal to the first closed fill height.

4. The line-up of claim 1 , wherein:
the second container includes one or more product viewing portions; and
at least a portion of the second fill line is visible through the one or more product viewing portions, from outside of the second container.

5. The line-up of claim 1 , wherein:
the first container is made from one or more particular flexible materials; and
the second container is also made from the one or more particular flexible materials.

6. The line-up of claim 1 , wherein:
the first container has a first overall front profile; and
the second container has a second overall front profile that has substantially the same size and shape as the first overall front profile.

7. The line-up of claim 1 , wherein:
the first container has a first overall side profile;
the second container has a second overall side profile;
a front half of the second overall side profile has substantially the same size and shape as a front half of the first overall side profile; and
a back half of the second overall side profile has a smaller size than a back half of the first overall side profile.

8. The line-up of claim 1 , wherein:
the first container has a first effective base contact area;
the second container has a second effective base contact area that has substantially the same size and shape as the first effective base contact area.

9. The line-up of claim 1 , wherein the second folding pattern is the same as the first folding pattern.

10. The line-up of claim 1 , wherein:
the first container has a first container construction, wherein substantially all of the first container construction is based on the first folding pattern; and
the second container has a second container construction, wherein substantially all of the second container construction is based on the second folding pattern.

11. The line-up of claim 1 , wherein:
substantially all of the first product space construction is based on the first sealing pattern; and
substantially all of the second product space construction is based on the second sealing pattern.

12. The line-up of claim 1 , wherein:
the first container has a first container construction, wherein substantially all of the first container construction is based on the first sealing pattern; and
the second container has a second container construction, wherein substantially all of the second container construction is based on the second sealing pattern.

13. The line-up of claim 1 , wherein:
the first container includes a first overall set of printed external indicia; and
the second container includes a second overall set of printed external indicia that is substantially the same as first overall set of printed external indicia.

14. The line-up of claim 1 , wherein the second product space is vented.

15. The line-up of claim 1 , wherein:
the first product space is sealed closed and has a first headspace at a first sealed closed headspace pressure;
the second product space is sealed closed and has a second headspace at a second sealed closed headspace pressure that is within 20% of the first sealed closed headspace pressure.

16. The line-up of claim 15 , wherein the first sealed closed headspace pressure is within 20% of atmospheric pressure.

17. The line-up of claim 1 , wherein:
the second product space is sealed closed, and the second closed fill height is a second sealed closed fill height;
the second container is configured such that, when the second product space is opened, the second fluent product in the second product space assumes a second open fill height; and
the second open fill height is within 30% of the second sealed closed fill height.

18. The line-up of claim 1 , wherein:
the second product space is sealed closed, and the second closed fill height is a second sealed closed fill height;
the second container is configured such that, when the second product space is opened, the second fluent product in the second product space assumes a second open fill height; and
the second open fill height is within 6 centimeters of the second sealed closed fill height.

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

20. The line-up of claim 1 , wherein the first fluent product and the second fluent product are at least essentially the same.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

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

Classifications

• B65D25/56 Primary

  with means for indicating level of contents · CPC title

• B65D65/38

  Packaging materials of special type or form · CPC title

• B65D35/02

  Body construction · CPC title

• B65D75/008 Primary

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

• B65D2203/00

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