Package having recloseable pour spout

Abstract

A package having a recloseable pour spout is disclosed, with the package including front and rear package panels which may be joined at respective side edges thereof by inwardly extending side gussets. An upper edge portion of the package is removable, including one of the side gussets, to form a pour spout for dispensing the contents of the package. A fastener strip, which can be detachably connected to itself, extends between confronting inside surfaces of the front and rear package panels, adjacent to the pour spout, whereby the pour spout can be conveniently closed after the package is initially opened. The package can include a longitudinal seal which extends from adjacent the pour spout to overlap the fastener strip. When the package includes side gussets, the package may include an arrangement of corner seals, with the corner seals at the one of the gussets at which the package pour spout is formed not extending the full length of the package, thereby desirably facilitating shaping of the package to form the pour spout. A method of forming the present package is also disclosed.

1 . A package having a recloseable pour spout, comprising: 
 a front package panel;    a rear package panel; and    a recloseable fastener strip extending along confronting inside surfaces of said front and rear panels;    said fastener strip being configured for detachable connection to itself, to thereby form a recloseable pour spout at an upper edge of said package after opening of said upper edge to form said pour spout,    said package including a longitudinal seal adjacent to said pour spout joining said front package panel to said rear package panel.    
   
   
       2 . A package in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said package includes a pair of side gussets joining respective opposite edges of said front panel and said rear panel to each other, said fastener strip extending along an inside surface of one of said gussets.    
   
   
       3 . A package in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said front and rear panels are sealed to each other and to said side gussets at said upper edge of said package, to form a sealed header, a portion of said sealed header being removable from said pour spout.    
   
   
       4 . A package in accordance with  claim 1 . wherein: 
 said fastener strip comprises a profile fastener strip.    
   
   
       5 . A package in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said fastener strip comprises an adhesive fastener strip.    
   
   
       6 . A package in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said fastener strip comprises a hook-and-loop fastener strip.    
   
   
       7 . A package in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said fastener strip has a length greater than the periphery of said pour spout, and said longitudinal seal extends from adjacent said pour spout overlaps said recloseable fastener strip.    
   
   
       8 . A package in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said longitudinal seal extends from adjacent said pour spout and overlaps said fastener strip above a fastener element thereof.    
   
   
       9 . A package having a recloseable pour spout, comprising: 
 a front package panel;    a rear package panel connected to said front package panel;    a pair of side gussets joining respective opposite edges of said front and rear panels; and    a recloseable fastener strip extending from a portion of an inside surface of said front panel to a portion of an inside surface of said rear panel, along one of said side gussets    said fastener strip being configured for detachable connection to itself,    said front panel and said rear panel being sealed to each other at an upper edge of said package to form a sealed header, a portion of said sealed header being adjacent said fastener strip, said fastener strip being configured for detachable connection to itself for selectively reclosing said pour spout,    said package including a pair of corner seals at each of said gussets respectively, joining each of said gussets to said front and rear panels, said corner seals of said one of said gussets each extending downwardly from a point below a fastener element of said fastener strip to facilitate formation of said pour spout.    
   
   
       10 . A package in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein: 
 each said point is spaced below said fastener element of said fastener strip by a distance generally corresponding to a folded width of each said gusset.    
   
   
       11 . A package in accordance with  claim 9 , including: 
 a pair of auxiliary corner seals formed respectively joining said one of said gussets to said front and rear panels in said sealed header to facilitate removal thereof.    
   
   
       12 . A package in accordance with  claim 9 , including: 
 a longitudinal seal joining said front and rear panels to each other adjacent to said pour spout.    
   
   
       13 . A package in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said package includes at least one weakened region to facilitate removal of said portion of said header.    
   
   
       14 . A package in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said pair of side gussets extend into said sealed header, said removable portion of said sealed header including a portion of said one of said side gussets.    
   
   
       15 . A package in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said fastener strip is selected from the group consisting of a profile fastener strip, an adhesive fastener strip, and a hook-and-loop fastener strip.    
   
   
       16 . A package in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said package is formed from a tube having a width in a flattened state, said fastener strip having a length, when folded in half, which is less than one-half of said width.    said attachment element being spaced from said sealed header by about 0.1875 inches to about 0.75 inches.    
   
   
       17 . A package in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said recloseable fastener strip includes plural groups of profile elements, each of said groups of profile elements being configured for detachable connection to itself.    
   
   
       18 . A method of forming a package with a recloseable pour spout, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a web of material having a longitudinal axis;    applying a plurality of fastener strips to said web of material at intervals corresponding to a length of each said package being formed, said fastener strips each extending transversely of said longitudinal axis and each being detachably connectable to itself;    folding said web of material, and sealing the material to itself to form a tube;    transversely sealing said tube to form a series of packages in end-to-end relationship, with each said package including a front package panel and a rear package panel, with a respective one of said fastener strips extending from a portion of the front panel to a portion of the rear panel of the respective package to form a recloseable pour spout; and    forming a longitudinal seal joining said front package panel to said rear package panel adjacent to pour spout.    
   
   
       19 . A method of forming a package in accordance with  claim 18 , including: 
 forming a pair of inwardly extending side gussets in said tube prior to said transversely sealing strip, each said fastener strip extending from the front panel to the rear panel of the respective package along an inside surface of a respective one of said side gussets.    
   
   
       20 . A method of forming a package in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein: 
 said web of material is sealed to itself generally along the rear panel of each said package.    
   
   
       21 . A method of forming a package in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein: 
 said web of material is sealed to itself generally along an edge of said front panel or rear panel of each said package.    
   
   
       22 . A method of forming a package in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein: 
 said plurality of fastener strips are applied to said web of material offset from the longitudinal axis thereof.    
   
   
       23 . A method of forming a package in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein: 
 said plurality of fastener strips are applied to said web of material in alignment with the longitudinal axis thereof.    
   
   
       24 . A method of forming a package in accordance with  claim 19 , including: 
 forming a pair of corner seals at each of said gussets respectively joining each of said gussets to said front and rear panels, said corner seals of said one of said gussets each extending downwardly from a point below a fastener element of said fastener strip to facilitate formation of said pour spout.    
   
   
       25 . A method of forming a package in accordance with  claim 24 , including: 
 forming a pair of auxiliary corner seals respectively joining said one of said gussets to said front and rear panels above said fastener strip.