Pouch with divider

Abstract

A flexible container includes a free-standing pouch with a divider to separate the pouch into compartments to keep the contents from mixing. The flexible container may include a recloseable seal and a reinforced handle.

Description

The present invention relates to containers and, more particularly, to a flexible pouch with one or more dividers to keep the food or other items separated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Containers for carrying, storing and packaging food and items are generally known in the art. Containers are made from various materials such as plastic, glass and metal, for example. Self-serve or over-the-counter deli plastic containers typically include a tab with a snap-seal lid. These types of containers can be difficult to handle and may flex when carrying a large amount of food or if the food is hot. Additionally, these containers may not have dividers to keep the contents from mixing which necessitates use of two or more containers to carry different food items.

Conventional flexible packing for food, such as plastic pouches, generally does not include dividers or compartments within the package. Some flexible packages have included panels secured to a side of the package to form a pouch within the internal cavity of the package.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a flexible package with one or more dividers which may be positioned within the cavity of the package during manufacturing. The dividers separate the cavity into compartments to keep foods or other items separated. The package may include a carrying handle and a resealable closure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an unfolded plastic sheet with fold lines indicated.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the sheet of FIG. 1 with a handle portion folded on each end.

FIG. 3 is a perspective end view of the sheet of FIG. 2 folded along the indicated fold lines.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an unfolded divider with fold lines indicated.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the divider of FIG. 4 shown folded.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the divider of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the folded sheet of FIG. 3 with the folded divider of FIG. 5 inserted.

FIG. 8 is the sheet of FIG. 7 with seals shown to form a pouch.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the pouch of FIG. 8 shown open to view the cavity and divider.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a sheet of flexible materially is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. Sheet 10 is generally constructed of a suitable material such as polyethylene, polyester, polypropylene or polyethylenes laminated, or coextruded, with other materials such as nylon, polyester and the like films, for example. It should be understood to one skilled in the art that other materials and films may be used as necessary for the particular application. Sheet 10 includes a front panel 12, a back panel 14, and a bottom panel 16. Reinforced handle panels 18 and 20 are separated from front 12 and back 14 panels by locking strips 22 and 24, respectively.

Bottom panel 16 is separated from the front panel 12 by a fold line 26. Bottom panel 16 is separated from the back panel 14 by a fold line 28. Bottom panel 16 is also divided in half by fold line 30. Reinforced handle panel 18 is folded along fold line 32 and reinforced handle panel 20 is folded along fold line 34 to provide a double layer of material along the open edge of the pouch.

When the sheet 10 is folded along the fold lines as shown in FIG. 3, the sheet 10 is formed into an open generally W-shaped channel.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6, a divider sheet is generally indicated by reference numeral 40. Divider sheet 40 may be constructed of any suitable sheet material such as the materials indicated hereinabove for sheet 10, for example. Sheet 40 may be folded in half along fold line 42 by folding edges 44 and 46 together to form edge 48 and folded along fold lines 50, 52 and 54 by folding edges 45 and 47 together to form gussets 56 and 58 and a closed generally W-shaped member shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIGS. 7-9, the folded divider sheet 40 is inserted into W-shaped channel of the folded sheet 10 with each gusset 56 and 58 of the divider sheet 40 straddling the fold line 30 in the bottom panel 16. Divider sheet 40 may be positioned anywhere along the fold line 30 to divide the pouch into compartments of the desired size. Additional divider sheets 40 (not shown) may be inserted to divide the pouch into multiple compartments.

Once the divider sheet 40 is in place the front 12, back 14 and bottom 16 panels may be joined to form a pouch 100 with an inner cavity 102. Divider sheet 40 separates the cavity 102 into compartments 104 and 106. The cross-hatching in FIG. 8 generally denotes the seal lines which are further described herein.

Preferably, the package 100 is formed into a standing pouch. The outside edges 108 and 110 are bonded together by applying a heat sealing bar or other device. Likewise, a heat sealing bar is applied to the corners 112 and 114 to form gussets to strengthen the bottom corners of the pouch 100. A heat sealing bar is applied to form a seal 115 along the free edge and overlap areas of the handle reinforcing panels 18 and 20 through which a pair of handle holes 116 and 118 are punched.

Finally, the divider sheet 40 is sealed to the front 12, back 14 and bottom 16 panels along the free edges 44, 45, 46 and 47. By applying a heat sealing bar along seam 120 divider 40 is securely sealed to the side panel 12, the bottom panel 16 along seam 122, and the opposite side panel 14 along seam 124.

The food pouch 100 with the divider 40 may be used to transport separate food items conveniently without having to carry separate containers and without the food items mixing. For example, in compartment 104, hot mashed potatoes may be placed and in compartment 106, brown gravy for the mashed potatoes may be placed. The mashed potatoes and gravy may be conveniently transported in one food pouch 100 without mixing.

It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto, except in so far as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A flexible container comprising:

a flexible sheet folded to present a generally W-shaped member having a front panel, a folded bottom panel, and a rear panel, said flexible sheet sealed along opposed edges to seal said panels together to form a pouch with a cavity,

said pouch having an opening remote from said bottom panel and in communication with said cavity, and

a divider panel having side portions sealed to interior surfaces of said front and rear panels and a lower portion sealed to said bottom panel and dividing said cavity into two compartments.

2. The flexible container as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a handle means proximal said opening for grasping the flexible container.

3. The flexible container as set forth in claim 2 wherein said handle means includes a pair of generally elongated and aligned slots extending through said front and rear panels proximal said opening of said pouch to present a handle.

4. The flexible container as set forth in claim 3 wherein said handle is reinforced.

5. The flexible container as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a recloseable seal having first and second opposed mating members secured in said cavity of said pouch proximal said opening.

6. The flexible container as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of divider panels sealed to said interior surfaces of said front, rear and bottom panels to divide said cavity into a plurality of compartments.

7. The flexible container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible container is free-standing.

8. A flexible container comprising:

a pouch having a front panel, a rear panel, and a bottom panel, said bottom panel folded to present a generally inverted V-shaped panel having first and second upper surfaces, said front panel connected to a first longitudinal edge of said first upper surface of said bottom panel, said rear panel connected to a second longitudinal edge of said second upper surface of said bottom panel opposite said first longitudinal edge of said bottom panel, said pouch folded into a generally W-shaped member with a surface of said front panel in contact with a surface of said rear panel and said first upper surface of said bottom panel, and a surface of said rear panel in contact with said second upper surface of said bottom panel, said front panel sealed to said rear panel and said first upper surface of said bottom panel along side edges, said rear panel sealed to said front panel and said second upper surface of said bottom panel along said side edges to present a cavity in said pouch, said front panel and said rear panel having free upper edges opposite said bottom panel to present an opening to said cavity, and

a divider having a first side edge sealed to said surface of said front panel, a second edge sealed to said surface of said rear panel, and a bottom edge sealed to said first and second upper surfaces of said bottom panel,

whereby said divider separates said cavity of said pouch into compartments.

9. The flexible container as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a pair of generally elongated and aligned slots extending through said front and rear panels proximal said free upper edges to present a handle.

10. The flexible container as set forth in claim 9 wherein said handle is reinforced.

11. The flexible container as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a recloseable seal having first and second opposed mating members, said first mating member secured to said surface of said front panel proximal said free upper edge of said front panel, said second mating member secured to said surface of said rear panel opposite said first mating member.

12. The flexible container as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a pair of gusset seals along each end of said bottom panel.

13. The flexible container as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a plurality of dividers secured to said surfaces of said front and rear panels to separate said cavity of said pouch into a plurality of compartments.

14. The flexible container as set forth in claim 8 wherein said flexible container is free-standing.

15. A flexible container comprising:

a flexible sheet folded to present a first panel, a bottom panel and a second panel, said first panel connected to said bottom panel along a first fold line, said second panel connected to said bottom panel along a second fold line opposite said first fold line, said first and second panels each having a free edge opposite said bottom panel, said bottom panel having a third fold line generally spaced between said first fold line and said second fold line, said bottom panel folded inwardly between said first and second panels to present a first half bottom panel and a second half bottom panel, said first panel sealed to said second panel and said first half bottom panel along a first side edge and a second side edge, said second panel sealed to said first panel and said second half bottom panel along said first and second side edges to present a pouch having a cavity, and

a divider sheet having a first side edge sealed to said first panel, a second side edge sealed to said second panel and a bottom edge sealed to said bottom panel within said cavity,

whereby said divider sheet separates said cavity into compartments.

16. The flexible container as set forth in claim 15 further comprising a pair of generally elongated and aligned slots extending through said first and second panels proximal said free edges to present a handle.

17. The flexible container as set forth in claim 16 wherein said handle is reinforced.

18. The flexible container as set forth in claim 15 further comprising a recloseable seal having first and second opposed mating members, said first mating member secured to said surface of said first panel proximal said free edge of said first panel within said cavity, said second mating member secured to said surface of said second panel opposite said first mating member within said cavity.

19. The flexible container as set forth in claim 15 further comprising a pair of gusset seals along each end of said bottom panel.

20. The flexible container as set forth in claim 15 further comprising a plurality of dividers secured to said surfaces of said front and rear panels to separate said cavity of said pouch into a plurality of compartments.

21. The flexible container as set forth in claim 15 wherein said flexible container is free-standing.