Seam configuration for a flexible container

Abstract

A seam configuration for a flexible container and a method for forming the seam configuration. The seam configuration includes a first hem having a first hem outer surface, a second hem having a second hem outer surface, and a primary seam which is formed by fusing together the first hem outer surface and the second hem outer surface. The method includes the steps of forming a first fold to create the first hem, forming a second fold to create the second hem, positioning the first hem outer surface and the second hem outer surface so that they are contiguous, and then fusing together the first hem outer surface and the second hem outer surface to form the primary seam.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A method of forming a seam configuration in a flexible container, the seam configuration comprising a primary seam adjacent to a first peripheral edge and a second peripheral edge in a flexible material comprising the flexible container, the method comprising the following steps: 
 (a) forming a first fold in the flexible material adjacent to the first edge in order to create a first hem, wherein the first hem is comprised of a first hem outer surface and a first hem inner surface;    (b) forming a second fold in the flexible material adjacent to the second edge in order to create a second hem, wherein the second hem is comprised of a second hem outer surface and a second hem inner surface;    (c) positioning the first hem outer surface and the second hem outer surface so that they are contiguous; and    (d) fusing together the first hem outer surface and the second hem outer surface to form the primary seam.    
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the flexible material is comprised of an organic polymer and wherein the fusing step is comprised of heating the flexible material to fuse together the first hem outer surface and the second hem outer surface.  
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the flexible container defines an interior container space and wherein the positioning step is performed such that the first edge and the second edge are both located within the interior container space.  
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the fusing step is comprised of heating the flexible material with a stream of heated gas.  
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the stream of heated gas is supplied by a nozzle.  
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the fusing step is comprised of inserting the nozzle between the first hem outer surface and the second hem outer surface and passing the heated gas through the nozzle.  
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the first hem has a first hem length, wherein the second hem has a second hem length, and wherein the fusing step is further comprised of moving the nozzle along the first hem length and the second hem length to form the primary seam such that the primary seam has a primary seam length.  
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the flexible material is comprised of a woven material.  
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the woven material includes a plurality of interstices and wherein the flexible material further comprises a sealant for sealing the interstices in the flexible material.  
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the flexible container defines an exterior container space and wherein the fusing step is performed from the exterior container space.  
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the first hem has a first hem length, wherein the second hem has a second hem length, and wherein the fusing step is comprised of heating the flexible material along the first hem length and the second hem length to form the primary seam such that the primary seam has a primary seam length.  
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the first hem inner surface faces a first adjacent portion of the flexible material and wherein the second hem inner surface faces a second adjacent portion of the flexible material, further comprising the step of fusing together the first hem inner surface and the first adjacent portion of the flexible material along the first hem length to form a first hem connection having a first hem connection length and further comprising the step of fusing together the second hem inner surface and the second adjacent portion of the flexible material along the second hem length to form a second hem connection having a second hem connection length.  
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the flexible container defines an interior container space, further comprising the step of forming a secondary seam connecting the first hem outer surface and the second hem outer surface, wherein the secondary seam has a secondary seam length and wherein the primary seam extends further toward the interior container space than does the secondary seam.  
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the first hem connection extends further toward the interior container space than does the secondary seam and wherein the second hem connection extends further toward the interior container space than does the secondary seam.  
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the secondary seam forming step is comprised of stitching together the first adjacent portion, the first hem, the second hem and the second adjacent portion.  
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the first hem connection, the second hem connection, the primary seam and the secondary seam are substantially parallel to each other.  
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the first hem connection length, the second hem connection length, the primary seam length and the secondary seam length are substantially equal.  
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the first edge is located on a first panel of the flexible material, wherein the second edge is located on a second panel of the flexible material, and wherein the primary seam connects the first panel and the second panel.  
     
     
         19 . A seam configuration for a flexible container, comprising: 
 (a) a first hem associated with a first peripheral edge in a flexible material comprising the flexible container, wherein the first hem has a first hem length and wherein the first hem is comprised of a first hem outer surface and a first hem inner surface;    (b) a second hem associated with a second peripheral edge in the flexible material, wherein the second hem has a second hem length and wherein the second hem is comprised of a second hem outer surface and a second hem inner surface; and    (c) a primary seam between the first hem outer surface and the second hem outer surface, wherein the primary seam has a primary seam length and wherein the primary seam is formed by fusing together the first hem outer surface and the second hem outer surface.    
     
     
         20 . The seam configuration as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the flexible material is comprised of an organic polymer.  
     
     
         21 . The seam configuration as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the flexible container defines an interior container space and wherein the first edge and the second edge are both located within the interior container space.  
     
     
         22 . The seam configuration as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the flexible material is comprised of a woven material.  
     
     
         23 . The seam configuration as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the woven material includes a plurality of interstices and wherein the flexible material further comprises a sealant for sealing the interstices in the flexible material.  
     
     
         24 . The seam configuration as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the first hem inner surface faces a first adjacent portion of the material, wherein the second hem inner surface faces a second adjacent portion of the material, wherein the first hem inner surface and the first adjacent portion are fused together to form a first hem connection having a first hem connection length, and wherein the second hem inner surface and the second adjacent portion are fused together to form a second hem connection having a second hem connection length.  
     
     
         25 . The seam configuration as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the flexible container defines an interior container space, further comprising a secondary seam connecting the first hem outer surface and the second hem outer surface, wherein the secondary seam has a secondary seam length and wherein the primary seam extends further toward the interior container space than does the secondary seam.  
     
     
         26 . The seam configuration as claimed in  claim 25  wherein the first hem connection extends further toward the interior container space than does the secondary seam and wherein the second hem connection extends further toward the interior container space than does the secondary seam.  
     
     
         27 . The seam configuration as claimed in  claim 26  wherein the secondary seam is comprised of stitches passing through the first adjacent portion, the first hem, the second hem and the second adjacent portion.  
     
     
         28 . The seam configuration as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the first hem connection, the second hem connection, the primary seam and the secondary seam are substantially parallel.  
     
     
         29 . The seam configuration as claimed in  claim 28  wherein the first hem connection length, the second hem connection length, the primary seam length and the secondary seam length are substantially equal.  
     
     
         30 . The seam configuration as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the first edge is located on a first panel of the flexible material, wherein the second edge is located on a second panel of the flexible material, and wherein the primary seam connects the first panel and the second panel.