Pouches having reclosable pour spout in side gusset

Abstract

A package comprising: a gusseted tube of film sealed at a top and a bottom thereof by top and bottom cross seals respectively, the bottom seal extending the full width of the package and the top seal extending along a major portion of the package width. The gusseted tube comprises a side gusset extending from the top to the bottom of the tube, wherein the side gusset and the top seal do not overlap. The package further comprises a flexible zipper comprising a first zipper strip joined to a portion of and extending across the width of the side gusset, and a second zipper strip joined to portions of the tube. After the zipper is opened, an upper portion of the side gusset to which the zipper is attached can be inverted to form a pour spout.

1 . A package comprising:
 a receptacle having an interior volume and a spout that, when in an opened state, allows the package exterior to communicate with said interior volume, said receptacle comprising first and second walls and a first side gusset connected to said first and second walls, said spout being formed by an upper portion of said first side gusset and adjoining first upper portions of said first and second walls respectively, wherein confronting second upper portions of said first and second walls contiguous with said first upper portions of said first and second walls respectively are sealed together at or near a top of said receptacle; and   a flexible zipper attached to said spout in a manner such that said spout is closed when said zipper is closed and said spout is open to the extent that said zipper is opened, said zipper comprising a first zipper strip joined to said first side gusset and a second zipper strip joined to said first and second walls.   
   
   
       2 . The package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first zipper strip comprises a first closure profile and a first flange connected to said first closure profile, and said second zipper strip comprises a second closure profile that is engageable with said first closure profile and a second flange connected to said second closure profile, said first flange being joined to said first side gusset, and said second flange being joined to said first and second walls. 
   
   
       3 . The package as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a slider mounted to said zipper, said slider being movable in a closing direction to cause portions of said first and second closure profiles to engage and in an opening direction to cause portions of said first and second closure profiles to disengage. 
   
   
       4 . The package as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising a first slider end stop positioned at one end of said zipper to stop said slider from moving further in said closing direction; and a second slider end stop positioned at the other end of said zipper to stop said slider from moving further in said opening direction. 
   
   
       5 . The package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first zipper strip comprises a first closure profile and first and second flanges connected to said first closure profile, and said second zipper strip comprises a second closure profile and a third flange connected to said second closure profile, said first and second flanges being joined to said first side gusset, and said third flange being joined to said first and second walls. 
   
   
       6 . The package as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said third flange is also joined to said first side gusset, the respective zones of joinder of said first and third flanges to said first side gusset being connected by a section of said first side gusset having a line of weakness. 
   
   
       7 . The package as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said line of weakness comprises a line of spaced perforations. 
   
   
       8 . The package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said receptacle further comprises a second side gusset. 
   
   
       9 . The package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein confronting lower portions of said first and second walls are sealed together at or near a bottom of said receptacle. 
   
   
       10 . The package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first side gusset extends from said top to a bottom of said receptacle. 
   
   
       11 . A package comprising:
 a gusseted tube of film sealed at a top and a bottom thereof by top and bottom cross seals respectively, said bottom seal extending the full width of the package, said top seal extending along a major portion of said package width, and said gusseted tube comprising a first side gusset extending from said top to said bottom of said tube, wherein said first side gusset and said top seal do not overlap; and   a flexible zipper comprising a first zipper strip joined to a portion of said first side gusset, and a second zipper strip joined to portions of said tube.   
   
   
       12 . The package as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said first zipper strip comprises a first closure profile and a first flange connected to said first closure profile, and said second zipper strip comprises a second closure profile that is engageable with said first closure profile and a second flange connected to said second closure profile, said first flange being joined to said first side gusset, and said second flange being joined to said portions of said tube. 
   
   
       13 . The package as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising a slider mounted to said zipper, said slider being movable in a closing direction to cause portions of said first and second closure profiles to engage and in an opening direction to cause portions of said first and second closure profiles to disengage. 
   
   
       14 . The package as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said first zipper strip comprises a first closure profile and first and second flanges connected to said first closure profile, and said second zipper strip comprises a second closure profile and a third flange connected to said second closure profile, said first and second flanges being joined to said first side gusset, and said third flange being joined to said first and second walls. 
   
   
       15 . The package as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said third flange is also joined to said first side gusset, the respective zones of joinder of said first and third flanges to said first side gusset being connected by a section of said first side gusset having a line of weakness. 
   
   
       16 . The package as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said receptacle further comprises a second side gusset. 
   
   
       17 . A package comprising a receptacle having a reclosable spout in one corner, said reclosable spout comprising a zipper having closed and opened states, said receptacle having an interior volume that communicates with the exterior of said package via said spout when said zipper is in said opened state, said receptacle comprising first and second walls and a side gusset connected to said first and second walls, said side gusset comprising first and second gusset panels that are connected to each other at a first fold line, said first gusset panel being connected to said first wall at a second fold line, and said second gusset panel being connected to said second wall at a third fold line, said spout comprising respective portions of said first and second gusset panels and respective portions of said first and second walls, wherein said first zipper strip is joined to said portions of said first and second gusset panels, and said second zipper strip is joined to said portions of said first and second walls. 
   
   
       18 . The package as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising a slider mounted to said zipper, said slider being movable in a closing direction to close said zipper and in an opening direction to open said zipper. 
   
   
       19 . The package as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said first zipper strip comprises a first closure profile and first and second flanges connected to said first closure profile, and said second zipper strip comprises a second closure profile and a third flange connected to said second closure profile, said first and second flanges being joined to said side gusset, and said third flange being joined to said first and second walls. 
   
   
       20 . The package as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said third flange is also joined to said side gusset, the respective zones of joinder of said first and third flanges to said side gusset being connected by a section of said side gusset having a line of weakness. 
   
   
       21 . A method of manufacturing a package having a reclosable spout, comprising the following steps:
 interlocking respective segments of first and second zipper strips together;   joining said first zipper strip segment to a web of packaging material;   forming said web into a tube;   forming a gusset in said tube, said gusset being situated such that said first zipper strip segment extends across the width of said gusset and no further;   forming a bottom seal across said gusseted tube;   filling said tube above said bottom seal with product;   joining said second zipper strip segment to respective portions of said tube; and   forming a top seal across a portion of said tube adjacent said zipper.