Product Package

Abstract

A product package formed from a vertical form, fill, seal process includes a single piece of film arranged and configured to define a container portion. The container includes a top seal portion, a bottom seal portion, and one side seal portion. Additionally, the container includes at least one folded side edge. The top and bottom seal portions include concave edges defining convex profiles of the container portion. The convex profiles of the container portion intersect the side seals to advantageously blunt corners of the product package to advantageously reduce localized stresses.

1 . A product package, comprising:
 a single sheet of film, the single sheet of film arranged and configured to comprise:   a container portion including a side edge, and opposing end edges disposed transverse to the side edge, at least one of the opposing end edges comprising a convex profile.   
   
   
       2 . The product package of  claim 1 , wherein the convex end edge comprising the convex profile intersects the side edge at an angle that is greater than ninety degrees. 
   
   
       3 . The product package of  claim 1 , wherein the single sheet of film further comprises opposing end seal portions disposed adjacent to the opposing end edges of the container portion. 
   
   
       4 . The product package of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the opposing end seal portions comprises a concave edge mating with the end edge of the container portion comprising a convex profile. 
   
   
       5 . The product package of  claim 3 , wherein each of the opposing end edges of the container portion comprises a convex profile. 
   
   
       6 . The product package of  claim 5 , wherein each of the opposing end seal portions comprises a concave edge abutting corresponding opposing convex end edges of the container portion. 
   
   
       7 . The product package of  claim 6 , wherein each of the opposing end seal portions further comprises a linear edge spaced from the concave edge. 
   
   
       8 . The product package of  claim 6 , wherein each of the opposing end seal portions further comprises a convex edge spaced from the concave edge. 
   
   
       9 . The product package of  claim 1 , wherein the single sheet of film comprises a water-soluble film. 
   
   
       10 . A product, comprising:
 a single sheet of film arranged and configured to comprise:
 a container portion for accommodating a substance, the container portion comprising first and second end edges, and first and second side edges, each of the first and second end edges comprising a convex profile, 
 first and second end seal portions, the first end seal portion comprising a concave edge abutting the first end edge of the container portion, the second end seal portion comprising a concave edge abutting the second end edge of the container portion, and 
 at least one of the first and second side edges of the container portion comprising a folded edge. 
   
   
   
       11 . The product of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second end edges of the container portion intersect at least one of the first and second side edges of the container portion at an angle greater than ninety degrees. 
   
   
       12 . The product of  claim 10 , wherein each of the first and second end seal portions further comprise a linear edge spaced from the concave edge. 
   
   
       13 . The product of  claim 10 , wherein each of the first and second end seal portions further comprise a convex edge spaced from the concave edge. 
   
   
       14 . The product of  claim 10 , wherein the single sheet of film comprises a water-soluble film. 
   
   
       15 . A method of forming a package, comprising:
 wrapping a single sheet of film about a longitudinal axis of the film;   sealing opposing sidewalls of the wrapped film together along a first path that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the film to form a first end seal portion, the first end seal portion comprising a concave edge; and   sealing opposing sidewalls of the wrapped film together along a second path that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the film to form a second end seal portion, the second end seal portion longitudinally spaced from the first end seal portion, thereby defining a container portion disposed between the first and second end seal portions, the container portion adapted to contain a substance.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein wrapping the single sheet of film comprises at least partly wrapping the single sheet of film around a vertical feed tube. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising sealing opposing longitudinal edges of the wrapped film together to form a tube of film prior to forming the first and second end seal portions. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising filling the container portion with a flowable substance prior to forming the second end seal portion. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second end seal portion comprises a concave edge. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising cutting the film adjacent to the second end seal portion to define a linear edge of the package. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising cutting the film adjacent to the second end seal portion to define a convex edge of the package. 
   
   
       22 . A product package constructed in accordance with the method of  claim 15 . 
   
   
       23 . An apparatus for manufacturing a product package from a single sheet of film, the product package comprising a container portion with at least one end edge having a convex profile, the apparatus comprising:
 a sealing iron having a first concave edge, the sealing iron adapted to engage the sheet of film such that the first concave edge forms the end edge of the container portion having the convex profile; and   a cutter located downstream of the sealing iron for cutting the sheet of film adjacent to the end edge of the container portion having the convex profile.   
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the cutter comprises a curved cutter to define an edge of the product package having a convex profile. 
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the curved cutter comprises a radius equal to a radius of the first concave edge of the sealing iron.