Flexible container

Abstract

A flexible container including two webs sealed with respect to each other to form a void between the webs. A first web forms an opening within a closure area. The opening is positioned along a fold line that passes through the closure area. With the flexible container in an unfolded condition, a layer of adhesive is applied to the first web within said closure area. The webs form two notched areas each at or near one of two opposing outer edges of the flexible container. The fold line intersects with the notched areas. With the flexible container in a folded condition, a portion of each web is folded with respect to the opening and a first portion of the adhesive layer on a first side of the opening forms an adhesive-to-adhesive contact with a second portion of the adhesive layer on an opposing second side of the opening.

1 . A flexible container comprising: 
 two webs sealed with respect to each other to form a void between said webs, a first web of said webs having a closure area, said first web forming an opening within said closure area, said opening positioned along a fold line passing through said closure area, with the flexible container in an unfolded condition said opening positioned within a layer of adhesive applied to said first web within said closure area, two notched areas formed by each of said first web and said second web, each of said notched areas positioned at one of two opposing outer edges of the flexible container, said fold line intersecting with said notched areas, and said layer of adhesive positioned within at least a portion of each of said notched areas.    
   
   
       2 . The flexible container according to  claim 1  wherein each said web has at least two layers.  
   
   
       3 . The flexible container according to  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of said layer of adhesive positioned within at least a portion of each said notched area is removable.  
   
   
       4 . The flexible container according to  claim 3  wherein a web material covers said portion of said layer of adhesive positioned within at least a portion of each said notched area.  
   
   
       5 . The flexible container according to  claim 3  wherein a powder material covers said portion of said layer of adhesive positioned within at least a portion of each said notched area.  
   
   
       6 . The flexible container according to  claim 1  wherein said layer of adhesive extends to each of said opposing outer edges.  
   
   
       7 . The flexible container according to  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a third web sealed with respect to said second web to form a second void between said third web and said second web, said third web forming a second opening, and said second opening positioned between said opposing outer edges.    
   
   
       8 . The flexible container according to  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a cover strip applied to said layer of adhesive, wherein said layer of adhesive is between said closure area of said first web and said cover strip.    
   
   
       9 . The flexible container according to  claim 1  wherein said webs are sealed about a periphery of the flexible container.  
   
   
       10 . The flexible container according to  claim 1  further comprising a reinforcement sleeve positioned with respect to said first web and said second web, said reinforcement sleeve extending between said opposing outer edges and extending at least partially along a length of said flexible container.  
   
   
       11 . A flexible container comprising: 
 two webs sealed with respect to each other to form a void between said webs, each said web having at least two layers, a first web of said webs having a closure area, said first web forming an opening within said closure area, said opening forming at least part of a fold line passing through said closure area, with the flexible container in an unfolded condition a layer of adhesive applied to said first web adjacent two opposing sides of said opening and within said closure area, said first web and said second web forming two notched areas, each of said notched areas positioned near one of two opposing outer edges of the flexible container, said fold line intersecting with said notched areas, and said layer of adhesive covering each of said notched area.    
   
   
       12 . The flexible container according to  claim 11  wherein said at least two layers comprise a first layer of a polyester or nylon material and a second layer of a polyethylene material.  
   
   
       13 . The flexible container of  claim 11  wherein a first layer of said at least two layers is coextensive with a second layer of said at least two layers.  
   
   
       14 . The flexible container according to  claim 11  wherein each of said notched areas extends at least partially between an outer edge of said opposing outer edges and a corresponding end portion of said opening.  
   
   
       15 . The flexible container according to  claim 11  wherein said webs are sealed with respect to each other with a heat seal, and each of said notched areas extends into said heat seal.  
   
   
       16 . The flexible container according to  claim 11  wherein a material of said adhesive layer is removable at each of said notched areas.  
   
   
       17 . The flexible container according to  claim 11  wherein said layer of adhesive comprises a polyester carrier layer positioned between a first layer of adhesive and a second layer of adhesive.  
   
   
       18 . A flexible container comprising: 
 two webs sealed with respect to each other to form a void between said webs, said first web having an opening within a closure area, said opening positioned along a fold line passing through said closure area, with the flexible container in an unfolded condition a layer of adhesive applied to said first web within said closure area adjacent two opposing sides of said opening, said first web and said second web forming two notched areas each at one of two opposing outer edges of the flexible container, said fold line intersecting with said notched areas, and with the flexible container in a folded condition a first portion of said adhesive layer on a first side of said two opposing sides forming an adhesive-to-adhesive contact with a second portion of said adhesive layer on a second side of said two opposing sides.    
   
   
       19 . The flexible container of  claim 18  wherein said webs are sealed with respect to each other with a heat seal, and each of said notched areas extends from said one of two opposing outer edges into said heat seal to prevent tearing of the flexible container along the fold line.  
   
   
       20 . The flexible container according to  claim 18  wherein each of said notched areas extends at least partially between said one of two opposing outer edges and a corresponding end portion of said opening.  
   
   
       21 . The flexible container according to  claim 18  further comprising: 
 a first panel sealed with respect to said first web, said first panel extending between said opposing outer edges and extending between said opening and a bottom seal portion of said flexible container; and    a second panel sealed with respect to said second web, said second panel extending between said opposing outer edges.    
   
   
       22 . The flexible container according to  claim 21  wherein the second panel is coterminous with said first panel.  
   
   
       23 . A flexible container comprising: 
 two webs sealed with respect to each other to form a void between said webs, a first web of said webs having a closure area, said first web forming an opening within said closure area, said opening positioned along a fold line passing through said closure area, with the flexible container in an unfolded condition a layer of adhesive applied to said first web within said closure area and surrounding said opening; and    a first panel extending between opposing outer edges of said flexible container and extending along a portion of a length of said void when said flexible container is in a folded condition.    
   
   
       24 . The flexible container according to  claim 23  further comprising a second panel extending between opposing outer edges of said flexible container and extending along a second portion of said length of said void.  
   
   
       25 . The flexible container according to  claim 23  wherein said first panel extends between said opening and a bottom seal portion of said container.  
   
   
       26 . The flexible container according to  claim 25  wherein a bottom edge of said first panel terminates short of said bottom seal portion.  
   
   
       27 . The flexible container according to  claim 25  wherein a top edge of said first panel terminates short of said opening.  
   
   
       28 . The flexible container according to  claim 23  wherein said first panel is sealed to one of said first web and said second web at each of said opposing outer edges.  
   
   
       29 . The flexible container according to  claim 23  wherein said first panel is positioned adjacent at least one of an interior surface and an exterior surface of at least one of said first web and said second web.  
   
   
       30 . The flexible container according to  claim 23  further comprising two notched areas formed by each of said first web and said second web, each of said notched areas positioned at one of said opposing outer edges, said fold line intersecting with said notched areas, and said layer of adhesive positioned within at least a portion of each of said notched areas.