Dispensing stand-up pouch

Abstract

The stand-up fluid dispensing device ( 10, 100 ) includes a container ( 42 ) with an outer surface, opening, interior fluid storage region ( 44 ) therein and an exterior outer region. A support structure ( 60 ) is affixed to the container ( 42 ) to maintain the container ( 42 ) in an upright condition at all times. Throughout the life of the product and regardless of amount of media ( 12 ) in the device ( 10, 100 ), it will remain standing upright to better display the package at all times. The support structure ( 60 ) is preferably a jacket filled with a gas, such as air. The jacket ( 60 ) can include a plurality of pockets ( 62 ), such as tubes filled with air. The stand-up fluid dispensing device ( 10, 100 ) may also include a metering pump ( 64 ) that can include a leakage control mechanism to control the dispensing of media ( 12 ) from the device ( 10, 100 ).

1 . A stand-up fluid dispensing device, comprising:
 a container having an outer surface and an opening; the container defining an interior fluid storage region therein, and an exterior outer region; and   a support structure affixed to the container to maintain the container in an upright condition.   
   
   
       2 . The stand-up fluid dispensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure is affixed to the outer surface of the container. 
   
   
       3 . The stand-up fluid dispensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure is a jacket filled with a gas. 
   
   
       4 . The stand-up fluid dispensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the gas is air. 
   
   
       5 . The stand-up fluid dispensing device of  claim 3 , wherein the jacket includes a plurality of pockets filled with a gas. 
   
   
       5 . The stand-up fluid dispensing device of  claim 3 , wherein the jacket includes a plurality of tubular members filled with a gas. 
   
   
       6 . The stand-up fluid dispensing device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a flexible metering housing, having a metering chamber therein with a predetermined volume, disposed in fluid communication with the fluid storage region via the first opening; a first valve disposed between the container and the flexible metering housing and permitting unidirectional fluid flow from the interior fluid storage region of the container into the metering chamber thereby filling the predetermined volume of the metering chamber; the flexible metering housing further including an metering housing output port;   a second valve, having a second valve output port, in fluid communication with the metering housing output port and permitting unidirectional fluid flow from the metering chamber to the exterior outer region of the container of a volume of fluid substantially equal to the predetermined volume of the flexible metering housing.   
   
   
       7 . The stand-up fluid dispensing device of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a fluid conduit connected at one end to the second valve output port and at the other end to a exit port defined by the container.   
   
   
       8 . The stand-up fluid dispensing device of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a fluid conduit disposed between the metering housing output port and the second valve.   
   
   
       9 . The fluid dispensing device of  claim 6 , wherein the first valve and the second valve are one-way check valves. 
   
   
       10 . The fluid dispensing device of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 standoff means connected to the metering housing and proximal to the first valve to prevent the first valve from being blocked.   
   
   
       11 . The fluid dispensing device of  claim 10 , wherein the standoff means is at least one leg. 
   
   
       12 . The fluid dispensing device of  claim 10 , wherein the standoff means is a spring. 
   
   
       13 . The fluid dispensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the container is a gusseted stand-up pouch. 
   
   
       14 . A stand-up fluid dispensing device, comprising:
 a stand-up container having an outer surface and an opening; the container defining an interior fluid storage region therein, and an exterior outer region;   a flexible metering housing, having a metering chamber therein with a predetermined volume, disposed in fluid communication with the fluid storage region via the first opening; a first valve disposed between the container and the flexible metering housing and permitting unidirectional fluid flow from the interior fluid storage region of the container into the metering chamber thereby filling the predetermined volume of the metering chamber; the flexible metering housing further including an metering housing output port;   a second valve, having a second valve output port, in fluid communication with the metering housing output port and permitting unidirectional fluid flow from the metering chamber to the exterior outer region of the container of a volume of fluid substantially equal to the predetermined volume of the flexible metering housing.   
   
   
       15 . The stand-up fluid dispensing device of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a fluid conduit connected at one end to the second valve output port and at the other end to a exit port defined by the container.   
   
   
       16 . The stand-up fluid dispensing device of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a fluid conduit disposed between the metering housing output port and the second valve.   
   
   
       17 . The fluid dispensing device of  claim 14 , wherein the first valve and the second valve are one-way check valves. 
   
   
       18 . The fluid dispensing device of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 standoff means connected to the metering housing and proximal to the first valve to prevent the first valve from being blocked.   
   
   
       19 . The fluid dispensing device of  claim 18 , wherein the standoff means is at least one leg. 
   
   
       20 . The fluid dispensing device of  claim 18 , wherein the standoff means is a spring.