REFILLABLE FOOD POUCH

Abstract

A reusable food pouch for holding solid, semi-solid and liquid foods. In one embodiment, the food pouch includes first and second flexible sheets joined together to form a container. A spout extends from the container and allows food to exit the spout when opened and prevents the food from exiting the spout when the spout is closed. A spout portion of the container secures the spout to the container. The spout portion extends further than all other portions of the container in a direction parallel to the length of the spout. A zipper portion of the container attaches and separates the flexible sheets along the length of a zipper. The length of the zipper is parallel to the length of the spout.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/758,749 filed Jan. 30, 2013, the entire text of which is specifically incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to reusable food containers, and more particularly to a refillable food pouch.

Small and portable, prefilled food containers are a great convenience to parents traveling with small children. These prefilled food containers are often filled with fruit or vegetable puree, such as apple sauce. However, portable, prefilled food containers are typically designed for a one-time use. Not only does the single use packaging add to waste dumps, any uneaten food is usually thrown out. Moreover, children with food allergies may be limited to only a small variety of foods available to them from single use containers.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Accordingly, one example aspect of the present invention is a reusable food pouch for holding solid, semi-solid and liquid foods. Food pouch includes a first flexible sheet and a second flexible sheet. The first and second sheets are joined together to form a container. A spout extends from the container and allows food to exit the spout when the spout is open and prevents the food from exiting the spout when the spout is closed. A spout portion of the container secures the spout to the container. The spout portion extends further than all other portions of the container in a direction parallel to the length of the spout. A zipper portion of the container is configured to attach and separate the first flexible sheet and the second flexible sheet along a length of a zipper. The length of the zipper is parallel to the length of the spout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a reusable food pouch for holding solid, semi-solid and liquid foods in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows the reusable food pouch with a zipper open in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is described with reference to embodiments of the invention. Throughout the description of the invention reference is made to FIGS. 1 and 2. When referring to the figures, like structures and elements shown throughout are indicated with like reference numerals.

FIG. 1 shows a reusable food pouch 102 for holding flowable food in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows the reusable food pouch 102 with a zipper 118 open in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The food pouch 102 includes a first flexible sheet 104 and a second flexible sheet 106. The first flexible sheet 104 and a second flexible sheet 106 are joined to form a container 108 with a hollow interior.

The first flexible sheet 104 and a second flexible sheet 106 can be made of a variety of flexible materials, such as a variety of paper, plastic and/or foil materials, in single or multiple layers, as required by the product to be packaged, and provided that such materials are liquid proof and can be thermally bonded or welded in the manner well known to the flexible packaging industry.

A spout 110 extends from the container 108. The spout 110 allows food to exit the spout when the spout is open, and prevents the food from exiting the spout 110 when the spout is closed. In one embodiment, the spout 110 includes a screw-on cap. In another embodiment, the spout is a push-pull type spout. The food pouch 102 includes a spout portion 112 of the container 108. The spout portion 112 secures the spout 110 to the container 108. For example, the spout 110 can be thermally bonded or welded to the spout portion 112 in the manner well known to the flexible packaging industry. Furthermore, the spout portion 112 extends further than all other portions of the container 108 in a direction 114 parallel to the length of the spout. In one embodiment, the spout 110 centered also a side of the container 108.

A zipper portion 116 of the container 108 is configured to attach and separate the first flexible sheet 104 and the second flexible sheet 106 along a length of a zipper 118. Thus, the zipper 118 is a releasably securable closure. In one embodiment of the invention, the length of the zipper 118 is parallel to the length of the spout 110.

In one embodiment of the invention, the reusable food pouch 102 further includes a third flexible sheet 120 that forms a gusset between the first flexible sheet 104 and the second flexible sheet 106. The third flexible sheet 120 may be located opposite the zipper portion 116 of the container 108. Additionally, the length of the zipper 116 can be substantially equal to the length of the gusset.

According to one pouch design of the present invention allows the user to fill the pouch with food puree or drink. Thus, the pouch is can be reused. The side zipper can open the full length of the pouch and the side opposite the zipper has a gusset. Because of this, container can stand on the gusset while the zipper is open and the container is being filled.

The user can use their recipe of food or drink to fill the pouch and have the same convenience of using a conventional pre-filled container. Furthermore, the pouch is environmentally friendly and reduces waste compared to conventional single-use container.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A reusable food pouch for holding flowable food, the food pouch comprising:

a first flexible sheet;

a second flexible sheet joined to the first flexible sheet to form a container;

a spout extending from the container, the spout allowing the food to exit the spout when the spout is open and preventing the food from exiting the spout when the spout is closed;

a spout portion of the container securing the spout to the container, the spout portion extends further than all other portions of the container in a direction parallel to the length of the spout; and

a zipper portion of the container for attaching and separating the first flexible sheet and the second flexible sheet along a length of a zipper, the length of the zipper being parallel to the length of the spout.

2. The reusable food pouch of claim 1, further comprising a third flexible sheet forming a gusset between the first flexible sheet and the second flexible sheet.

3. The reusable food pouch of claim 2, wherein the third flexible sheet is located opposite the zipper portion of the container.

4. The reusable food pouch of claim 2, wherein the length of the zipper is substantially equal to the length of the gusset.

5. The reusable food pouch of claim 1, wherein the spout is centered along a side of the container.