Abstract: A flexible pouch having a tube spout fitment includes a panel having a front wall and a back wall. A tube spout fitment is sealed between the front wall and back wall. The tube spout fitment includes a base portion having a seal-engaging surface that is disposed between the front wall and the back wall, and a centrally located passageway. An internal tubular spout projects upwardly from the base portion and has a centrally located passageway that is continuous with the base portion passageway. An external tube is removeably disposed over the internal tube Spout, and includes an upper removable portion having an upper edge that is sealed and a lower retained portion that is fixedly retained on the internal tube spout. A separating mean separates the removable portion of the external tube from the lower retained portion so that the internal tube spout is accessible.

Abstract: A flexible pouch for packaging an alcoholic beverage and a method of forming is provided. The flexible pouch includes a panel having an inner surface and an outer surface, and an upper edge, an opposed lower edge and a first side edge and a second side edge. The upper edge is sealed by a first seal and a second seal spaced a predetermined distance from the first seal, so that some of the beverage is trapped between the first seal and second seal. The pouch also includes an opening means disposed in the panel for accessing the beverage. The method includes the steps of forming a body of the pouch from a roll of laminate material, and sealing the lower edge, first side edge and second side edge, applying an opening means to the panel and finishing the pouch.

Abstract: A pouch is provided with a straw hole based on a structure that does not cause problems when the contents is filled therein and which does not generate any pin holes in the side seal section. A structure is also provided that does not cause any trouble when used in an automatic filling machine and a method is provided for manufacturing the same. The pouch has a straw hole (2) for a straw to be inserted therein with the straw hole (2) back-sealed with a seal material (3) from the inside thereof. The seal material (3) covers the straw hole (2), and a portion of the seal material (2) is cut off from the seal material (2) with the size sufficient for heat-sealing a periphery of the straw hole (2). The method of manufacturing the pouch is such that after the straw hole (2) is punched out on a front-side film thereof, a seal tape (6) temporally punched is fed to the rear side of the front-side film. The seal tape (6) is pulled off to leave only the temporally scaled section there.

Abstract: A flexible pouch for packaging a product includes a front panel and a back panel, each having an upper edge, a lower edge opposite the upper edge, and side edges extending therebetween the upper and lower edges, that are joined together at the side edges and the lower edges to contain the product. The front and back panels include an outwardly projecting crease that forms a guide pocket for separating the panels, prior to filling the pouch with the product, and the crease is straightened out when the upper edges of the front panel and back panel are sealed together. A method of forming and filling the flexible pouch includes the steps of forming the panel, and forming a crease in each of the panels that projects outwardly and extends longitudinally along each of the panels.

Abstract: A valve assembly is provided for venting pressurized gases generated from within an enclosed package during a heating of the package. The valve assembly has a membrane element, a tubular body and a retaining member. The tubular body has an open end, a closed end and a recess defined therebetween. The closed end has an aperture for venting the pressurized gases therethrough. The recess is operative to receive and support the membrane element adjacent the closed end. The retaining member is operative for snap-fit engagement with the tubular body for retaining the membrane element within the recess.

Abstract: An ergonomically beneficial flexible pouch is provided. The pouch includes a panel having an inner surface and an outer surface, and an upper edge, an opposed lower edge and two side edges extending therebetween. The flexible pouch may include a flat seam that lies flat against the outer surface of the panel. An upper edge of the pouch includes a first ultrasonic closing seal, and a second seal is positioned above the first closing seal. The pouch also includes opening means integral with the panel for accessing a product contained within the pouch. For an ergonomic flexible pouch containing a carbonated product, the pressure in the pouch from the carbonated product ergonomically shapes the pouch, such that the front wall and the back wall each have a longitudinally oriented convex shape and the sealed side edge and the smooth side edge each have a longitudinally oriented concave shape.

Abstract: A flexible pouch with multiple compartments for packaging a product includes a wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, and an upper edge, an opposed lower edge and a side edge extending therebetween the upper edge and the lower edge. A mid-seam separates the wall into discrete compartments, and the mid-seam is a frangible seal that remains intact when a pressure within the pouch is below a predetermined bursting pressure, and breaks when the pressure within the pouch is greater than the predetermined bursting pressure. The pouch also includes an opening means integrally formed in at least one compartment for accessing a product contained within the pouch.

Abstract: A flexible pouch having an integral valve for both packaging a product and serving the product and a method of making the same is provided. The flexible pouch includes a panel having an upper edge, an opposed lower edge, and a side edge extending therebetween the upper and lower edges. The flexible pouch further includes a valve disposed in the panel, wherein the valve is a one-way valve for releasing a gas from the pouch at a predetermined gas release pressure. A frangible seal encloses the valve to isolate the valve from the product contained in the flexible pouch, such that the frangible seal is intact when the pressure within the flexible pouch is less than a predetermined frangible seal pressure, and the frangible seal is broken when the pressure within the flexible pouch is greater than the predetermined frangible seal bursting pressure. The method includes the steps of forming the pouch, and inserting a valve in the panel.

Abstract: A flexible pouch with a flat seam for containing a product and a method of forming the pouch is provided. The pouch includes a panel having an inner surface and an outer surface, and an upper edge, an opposed lower edge and two side edges extending therebetween. One side edge is positioned over the second edge and sealed to form a flat seam that lies flat against the outer surface of the panel. An upper edge of the pouch includes a first ultrasonic closing seal, and a second seal is positioned above the first closing seal. The pouch also includes opening means integral with the panel for accessing a product contained within the pouch.

Abstract: A flexible pouch for packaging a product, such as a carbonated beverage, is provided that includes a front panel and a back panel each having an upper edge, a lower edge opposite the upper edge, and side edges extending therebetween the upper and lower edges. The pouch includes a first closing seal extending along an upper edge of the joined front and back panel formed a predetermined length from the open edge so that there is no dead space inside the pouch between the product and the first closing seal and a second closing seal outside the first closing seal, to form a pocket trapping some of the product between the first closing seal and the second closing seal. A method of forming and filling the pouch includes the steps of forming each panel and joining two panels by scaling together the side edges and lower edge. The method also includes the steps of opening the pouch and filling the pouch with the product.

Abstract: A valve assembly is provided for venting pressurized gases generated from within an enclosed package during a heating of the package. The valve assembly has a membrane element, a tubular body and a retaining member. The tubular body has an open end, a closed end and a recess defined therebetween. The closed end has an aperture for venting the pressurized gases therethrough. The recess is operative to receive and support the membrane element adjacent the closed end. The retaining member is operative for snap-fit engagement with the tubular body for retaining the membrane element within the recess.