Packaging including pouch for container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9969516-B2
Application number	US-201314086404-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2013
Priority date	Mar 18, 2011
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

A pouch, designed to be attached, either directly or indirectly, to a container, is provided with two end portions, each of which is formed with an elongated slit. When the pouch is directly attached atop a container, the end portions are pulled over the lid and catch a rim portion of the container. When the pouch is placed upon a lid covered container, the end portions of the pouch can catch or engage the lid. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a pair of spaced slits extends from each elongated slit, thereby creating a tab or flap in each end portion. The flap is configured to either directly catch a rim of the container or be tucked under the lid, i.e., between the lid and the container, to attach the pouch to the lid and, indirectly, the container.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A packaging assembly comprising:
a pouch formed from a flexible material, said pouch including opposing sidewall portions interconnected at opposing end regions and defining an interior cavity containing a food product, each of said end regions constituting a sealed region provided with an elongated slit and a pair of spaced slits extending from the elongated slit so as to establish a flap between the pair of spaced slits in each of said end regions; and
a lid for closing an internal storage region of a container, said lid having a body portion and a peripheral lip, said pouch being positioned upon the lid, with the opposing end regions extending about the body portion and each flap projecting under the peripheral lip.

2. The packaging assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each pair of spaced slits is fully contained within a respective said sealed region.

3. The packaging assembly according to claim 2 , wherein each of the spaced slits extends from the elongated slit only in a direction away from the sealed region.

4. The packaging assembly according to claim 3 , wherein spaced slits extend from the elongated slit at positions spaced from terminal ends of the elongated slit.

5. The packaging according to claim 4 , wherein each said elongated slit includes opposing terminal ends which extend beyond a respective said flap.

6. The packaging assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the food product is a crunchy, low moisture content food item.

7. The packaging assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the food product is granola.

8. The packaging assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising: a container including a base, a rim and an upstanding side portion extending between the base and the rim, said container including an internal storage region which is closed by the lid.

9. The packaging assembly according to claim 8 , wherein each flap is positioned between the side wall portion of the container and the peripheral lip of the lid.

10. A pouch formed from a flexible material establishing opposing sidewall portions interconnected at opposing end regions and defining an interior storage cavity containing a food product, each of said end regions constituting a sealed region provided with an elongated slit having first and second terminal ends and a pair of spaced slits extending from the elongated slit at positions spaced from the first and second terminal ends of the elongated slit so as to establish a flap between the pair of spaced slits in each of said end regions, with the elongated slit extending beyond the flap.

11. The pouch according to claim 10 , wherein each pair of spaced slits is fully contained within a respective said sealed region.

12. The pouch according to claim 10 , wherein each of the spaced slits extends from the elongated slit in a direction away from the interior storage cavity.

13. The pouch according to claim 10 , wherein the food product is a crunchy, low moisture content food item.

14. The pouch according to claim 10 , wherein said flap is disposed on an opposite side of the elongated slit than the interior storage cavity.

15. The pouch according to claim 10 , wherein each of the spaced slits extends substantially perpendicularly from the elongated slit.

16. The pouch according to claim 10 , wherein the elongated slit includes an intermediate portion between the first and second terminal ends, and each of the spaced slits extends from the elongated slit between the intermediate portion and a respective one of the first and second terminal ends.

17. The pouch according to claim 10 , wherein each of the spaced slits extends from the elongated slit only in a direction away from the sealed region.

18. A method of packaging items together comprising:
attaching a lid, having a body portion and a peripheral lip, to a container to close an internal storage region of the container with the peripheral lip extending about a rim of the container; and
attaching a pouch, which is formed from a flexible material, includes opposing sidewall portions interconnected at opposing end regions with each of said end regions constituting a sealed region provided with an elongated slit, and defines an interior cavity containing a food product, to the container by extending the flexible pouch across the closed internal storage region of the container, with the opposing end regions of the pouch extending about and engaging the rim of the container, wherein the pouch further includes a pair of spaced slits extending from the elongated slit so as to establish a flap between the pair of spaced slits in each of said end regions, said pouch being attached to the container by positioning the pouch upon the lid, extending the opposing end regions about the body portion and positioning each flap such that each flap projects under the peripheral lip.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising, in attaching the pouch to the container, pulling each opposing end region around the side wall portion until a respective said flap extends about the lid and below the peripheral lip, and then releasing the said opposing end region such that said flap slips between the side wall portion and the lid.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein attaching the pouch includes tensioning the opposing sidewall portions to extend the flexible pouch across the closed internal storage region, with some of the tension being maintained on the sidewall portions after fully attaching the pouch to the container.

Assignees

• Gen Mills Inc

Inventors

• Zaporski Neil E
• Swenson Anthony W

Classifications

• B65D2517/0056

  Unusual elements · CPC title

• B65D81/3205

  Separate rigid or semi-rigid containers joined to each other at their external surfaces (B65D81/3288 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65B61/202 Primary

  for attaching articles to the outside of a container (B65B61/205 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D75/563

  Integral handles or suspension means (B65D75/566 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D77/24

  Inserts or accessories added or incorporated during filling of containers (opening devices B65D77/30) · CPC title