Fluid container pouch

Abstract

A fluid container pouch has first and second opposing side walls forming at least one enclosed chamber between them, each side wall is comprised of a laminate material having at least two layers. A first layer of the laminate is sealant layer for sealing to a sealant layer of an opposed side wall. A second layer of the laminate provides a barrier between the contents of the pouch and its environment. Each of the first and second layers comprises a material having oriented structure, such that energy sufficient to tear the material will be directed in a predetermined direction across the material, and further that the oriented structures of the first and second layers are aligned with each other. At least one design weakness in the pouch operative to direct tearing energy in a direction aligned with the oriented structure of said first and second layers.

To be secured by United States Letters Patent, what is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A sealed fluid container pouch comprising: 
 a first enclosed fluid chamber;    a second enclosed fluid chamber, said second fluid chamber being elevated above said first fluid chamber when the pouch is upright; and    at least two flow channels for fluid communication between said first and second fluid chambers, wherein a first one of said at least two flow channels comprises a drinking straw substantially traversing the combined height of the first and second chambers.    
     
     
         2 . The fluid container pouch according to  claim 1  wherein said drinking straw comprises a flexible drinking straw.  
     
     
         3 . The fluid container pouch according to  claim 1  wherein an upper portion of said pouch comprises at least one through hole.  
     
     
         4 . The fluid container pouch according to  claim 1  further comprising one or more design weaknesses for allowing the pouch to be torn open.  
     
     
         5 . The fluid container pouch according to  claim 1  wherein at least one side of said second fluid chamber is angled to bias fluid flow towards a second one of said at least two flow channels.  
     
     
         6 . The fluid container pouch according to  claim 1  wherein said pouch includes at least one gusset for allowing the pouch to expand when filled.  
     
     
         7 . The fluid container pouch according to  claim 1  wherein a frontal profile of said pouch is formed in a non-rectangular shape.  
     
     
         8 . The fluid container pouch according to  claim 7  wherein said non-rectangular shape conforms to indicia on at least one wall of said pouch.  
     
     
         9 . The fluid container pouch according to  claim 1  wherein said pouch is formed from a single sheet of a pliable material folded onto itself and sealed along three sides.  
     
     
         10 . The fluid container pouch according to  claim 9  wherein said pliable material comprises a polypropylene ply and a barrier layer.  
     
     
         11 . The fluid container pouch according to  claim 10  wherein said barrier layer comprises an aluminum layer.  
     
     
         12 . The fluid container pouch according to  claim 10  wherein said barrier layer comprises a metalized coating.  
     
     
         13 . The fluid container pouch according to  claim 10  wherein said barrier layer comprises a polyethylene vinyl alcohol layer.  
     
     
         14 . The fluid container pouch according to  claim 10  wherein said barrier layer is oriented outwardly.  
     
     
         15 . The fluid container pouch according to  claim 1  further comprising a resealable closure.  
     
     
         16 . The fluid container pouch according to  claim 15 , wherein said resealable closure is a tongue and groove closure.  
     
     
         17 . The fluid container pouch according to  claim 1 , wherein said pouch comprises a laminate material having aligned oriented structures.  
     
     
         18 . The fluid container pouch according to  claim 1 , wherein said pouch comprises a tearable oriented material that presents a significant barrier to moisture.  
     
     
         19 . The fluid container pouch according to  claim 1 , wherein said pouch comprises a tearable oriented material that presents a significant barrier to oxygen.  
     
     
         20 . The fluid container pouch according to  claim 1 , wherein said pouch comprises a tearable oriented material that presents a significant barrier to alcohols.  
     
     
         21 . A fluid container pouch comprising: 
 first and second opposing side walls forming at least one enclosed chamber between them, each side wall comprised of a laminate material having at least two layers:    a first layer of said laminate being a sealant layer for sealing to a sealant layer of an opposed side wall; and    a second layer of said laminate material providing at least a barrier between the predetermined contents of the pouch and at least one component of its environment, wherein each of said first and second layers comprises a material having oriented structure such that energy sufficient to tear the material will be directed in a predetermined direction across the material, and further that the oriented structures of the first and second layers are aligned with each other; and    at least one design weakness operative to direct tearing energy in a direction aligned with the oriented structure of said first and second layers.    
     
     
         22 . The fluid container pouch according to  claim 21 , wherein said laminate material further comprises a third layer facing an exterior of the pouch.  
     
     
         23 . The fluid container pouch according to  claim 21 , wherein said third layer is reverse printed on an interior surface to show indicia to an exterior surface.  
     
     
         24 . The fluid container pouch according to  claim 21 , wherein said third layer comprises a material selected from the group of polyester, PET, oriented polypropylene, polyethylene and LLDPE.  
     
     
         25 . The fluid container pouch according to  claim 21 , wherein said second layer presents a significant barrier to one or more of moisture, oxygen, and alcohol.