Multi-compartment flexible pouch

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. A method of filling the multi-compartment pouch with a product includes the steps of simultaneously opening each compartment of the pouch using a pair of opposed first grippers positioned on each side edge of the pouch, a pair of opposed second grippers positioned on an upper edge of the pouch, and a pair of opposed suction members positioned on each compartment wall, and simultaneously pushing the first grippers inwardly and second grippers and suction members outwardly. The method further includes the steps of filling at least one of the opened compartments with a product applying a closing sealing to seal the filled compartments.

1 . A flexible pouch with multiple compartments for packaging a product, said pouch comprising: 
 a wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, and an upper edge, an opposed lower edge and a side edge extending therebetween said upper edge and said lower edge;    a mid-seam separating said wall into discrete compartments, wherein said 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; and    an opening means integrally formed in at least one compartment for accessing a product contained within the pouch.    
   
   
       2 . The pouch as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said mid-seam extends horizontally between a first side edge and a second side edge.  
   
   
       3 . The pouch as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said mid-seam extends vertically between said upper edge and said lower edge.  
   
   
       4 . The pouch as set forth in  claim 1  further including another mid-seam separating said wall into discrete compartments, wherein said another mid-seam is a permanent seal that remains intact when a pressure within the pouch is greater than the predetermined bursting pressure.  
   
   
       5 . The pouch as set forth in  claim 1  further including an insulating seal spaced a determined distance from either one of said upper edge, lower edge or side edge, and said insulating seal includes a first insulating seal spaced a predetermined distance apart from a second insulating seal, and an insulating airspace therebetween said first insulating seal and second insulating seal.  
   
   
       6 . The pouch as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said opening means is a fitment that includes a spout.  
   
   
       7 . The pouch as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said fitment includes a cap removably attached to said spout.  
   
   
       8 . The pouch as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a front wall and a rear wall and an insert positioned between said front wall and said rear wall.  
   
   
       9 . The pouch as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising an integral vent means disposed in said wall, and said integral vent means is enclosed by a frangible vent seal that remains intact when a pressure within the pouch is below a predetermined vent seal bursting pressure, and breaks when the pressure within the pouch is greater than the predetermined vent seal bursting pressure.  
   
   
       10 . The pouch as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said vent means is a one-way valve.  
   
   
       11 . The pouch as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said wall is formed from a laminate of at least three layers, and one layer is selected from a family of materials that includes cast polypropylene (CPP).  
   
   
       12 . The pouch as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a sleeve bonded to the outer surface of said wall.  
   
   
       13 . The pouch as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a securing means for holding the compartments of the pouch together when the pouch is folded along said mid-seal.  
   
   
       14 . A flexible pouch with multiple compartments for packaging a product, said pouch comprising: 
 a front wall 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 extending therebetween said upper edge and said lower edge;    a rear wall 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 extending therebetween said upper edge and said lower edge, wherein said upper edge, opposed lower edge, first side edge and second side edge of said front wall and said real wall are joined together;    a frangible mid-seal separating said joined front wall and rear wall into discrete compartments, wherein said frangible mid-seal 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;    a permanent mid-seal further separating said joined front wall and rear wall into discrete compartments, wherein said permanent seal remains intact when a pressure within the pouch is greater than the predetermined bursting pressure; and    an opening means integrally formed in at least one compartment for accessing a product contained within the pouch.    
   
   
       15 . The pouch as set forth in  claim 14  wherein said frangible mid-seal or said permanent mid-seal extends horizontally between said first side edge and said second side edge.  
   
   
       16 . The pouch as set forth in  claim 14  wherein said frangible mid-seal or said permanent mid-seal extends vertically between said upper edge and said lower edge.  
   
   
       17 . The pouch as set forth in  claim 14  further including an insulating seal spaced a determined distance from either one of said upper edge, lower edge or first side edge or said second side edge, and said insulating seal includes a first insulating seal spaced a predetermined distance apart from a second insulating seal, and an insulating airspace therebetween said first insulating seal and second insulating seal.  
   
   
       18 . The pouch as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said opening means is a fitment that includes a spout.  
   
   
       19 . The pouch as set forth in  claim 18  wherein said fitment includes a cap removably attached to said spout.  
   
   
       20 . The pouch as set forth in  claim 14  further comprising an insert positioned between said front wall and said back wall.  
   
   
       21 . The pouch as set forth in  claim 14  further comprising an integral vent means disposed in said front wall, and said integral vent means is enclosed by a frangible vent seal that remains intact when a pressure within the pouch is below a predetermined vent seal bursting pressure, and breaks when the pressure within the pouch is greater than the predetermined vent seal bursting pressure.  
   
   
       22 . The pouch as set forth in  claim 14  wherein said vent means is a one-way valve.  
   
   
       23 . The pouch as set forth in  claim 14  wherein said panel is formed from a laminate of at least three layers, and one layer is selected from a family of materials that includes cast polypropylene (CPP).  
   
   
       24 . The pouch as set forth in  claim 14  further comprising a sleeve bonded to the outer surface of said front wall and said rear wall.  
   
   
       25 . The pouch as set forth in  claim 14  further comprising a securing means for holding the compartments of the pouch together when the pouch is folded along both said frangible mid-seal and said permanent mid-seal.  
   
   
       26 . A method of filling a multi-compartment pouch with a product, said method including the steps of: 
 providing a pouch having a wall with an upper edge, an opposed lower edge and a side edge extending therebetween the upper edge and the lower edge, and a mid-seam separating the pouch into discrete compartments and an opening means integrally formed in at least one compartment for accessing a product contained within the pouch;    simultaneously opening each compartment of the pouch using a pair of opposed first grippers positioned on each side edge of the pouch, a pair of opposed second grippers positioned on an upper edge of the pouch, and a pair of opposed suction members positioned on each compartment wall, and simultaneously pushing the first grippers inwardly and second grippers and suction members outwardly;    filling at least one of the opened compartments with a product; and    applying a closing sealing to seal the filled compartment.    
   
   
       27 . The method as set forth in  claim 26  wherein said 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.  
   
   
       28 . The method as set forth in  claim 26  wherein said closing seal further includes the step of applying an insulating seal spaced a predetermined distance from the closing seal and an airspace is formed between the closing seal and the insulating seal.