Pressurized, gusseted package, packaged products, and related methods

Abstract

Described are packages and packaged food and non-food products, wherein the packages include a sealed end with a non-square geometry, including gusseted packages prepared from flexible film materials that can be pressurized and that can be useful to contain food (e.g., dough) and non-food items.

1 . A pressurized package having a longitudinal dimension, a width dimension, a left side, a right side, a top, and a bottom, a first package end, and a second package end, the package comprising:
 a top side comprising a left longitudinal edge, a right longitudinal edge, a first end, and a second end,   a bottom side comprising a left longitudinal edge, a right longitudinal edge, a first end, and a second end,   a left folded side comprising an upper longitudinal edge, a lower longitudinal edge, a first end, and a second end,   a right folded side comprising an upper longitudinal edge, a lower longitudinal edge, a first end, and a second end;   
       wherein
 the left longitudinal edge of the top side meets the upper longitudinal edge of the left folded side at an upper-left longitudinal edge, 
 the right longitudinal edge of the top side meets the upper longitudinal edge of the right folded side at an upper-right longitudinal edge, 
 the left longitudinal edge of the bottom side meets the lower longitudinal edge of the left folded side at a lower-left longitudinal edge, and 
 the right longitudinal edge of the bottom side meets the lower longitudinal edge of the right folded side at a lower-right longitudinal edge; 
 
       wherein an end of the package comprises a seal comprising:
 an upper-left connection formed between a left portion of an end of the top side and an end of an upper portion of the left folded side, the upper-left connection extending from a left fold in the left folded side to the upper-left longitudinal edge along a line that includes a directional component directed toward the second package end, 
 an upper-right connection formed between a right portion of an end of the top side and an end of an upper portion of the right folded side, the upper-right connection extending from a right fold in the right folded side to the upper-right longitudinal edge along a line that includes a directional component in a direction toward the second package end, 
 a lower-left connection formed between a left portion of an end of the bottom side and an end of a bottom portion of the left folded side, the lower-left connection extending from the left fold to the lower-left longitudinal edge along a line that includes a directional component in a direction toward the second package end, and 
 a lower-right connection formed between a right portion of an end of the bottom side and an end of a bottom portion of the right folded side, the lower-right connection extending from the right fold to the lower-right longitudinal edge along a line that includes a directional component in a direction toward the second package end. 
 
     
     
         2 . A package as recited at  claim 1  wherein one or more line is straight or curved. 
     
     
         3 . A package as recited at  claim 1  wherein the lines are straight; the upper-left connection, the lower-left connection, the upper-right connection, and the lower-right connection, meet at an apex; and the apex forms an angle in the range from 5 to 60 degrees 
     
     
         4 . A package as recited at  claim 1  wherein the upper-left connection is secured to the lower-left connection, and the upper-right connection is secured to the lower-right connection. 
     
     
         5 . A package as recited at  claim 4  wherein one or more upper or lower portion of the left folded side or right folded side includes one or more aperture at a connection. 
     
     
         6 . A package as recited at  claim 1  comprising a pressurized interior. 
     
     
         7 . A package as recited at  claim 1  containing a food product. 
     
     
         8 . A package as recited at  claim 7  wherein the food product is a raw dough. 
     
     
         9 . A package as recited at  claim 8  wherein the package is a vented package capable of being sealed by expansion of dough within the interior space. 
     
     
         10 . A package as recited at  claim 9  containing a raw dough and having an internal pressure in the range from greater than 0 to 30 pounds per square inch (gauge). 
     
     
         11 . A package as recited at  claim 1  wherein a second end of the package comprises a seal comprising:
 an upper-left connection formed between a left portion of an end of the top side and an end of an upper portion of the left folded side, the upper-left connection extending from a left fold in the left folded side to the upper-left longitudinal edge along a line that includes a directional component directed toward the first package end, 
 an upper-right connection formed between a right portion of an end of the top side and an end of an upper portion of the right folded side, the upper-right connection extending from a right fold in the right folded side to the upper-right longitudinal edge along a line that includes a directional component in a direction toward the first package end, 
 a lower-left connection formed between a left portion of an end of the bottom side and an end of a bottom portion of the left folded side, the lower-left connection extending from the left fold to the lower-left longitudinal edge along a line that includes a directional component in a direction toward the first package end, and 
 a lower-right connection formed between a right portion of an end of the bottom side and an end of a bottom portion of the right folded side, the lower-right connection extending from the right fold to the lower-right longitudinal edge along a line that includes a directional component in a direction toward the first package end. 
 
     
     
         12 . A method of preparing a pressurized packaged dough product, the method comprising
 providing a package having a longitudinal dimension, a width dimension, a left side, a right side, a top, and a bottom, a first package end, and a second package end, the package comprising
 a top side comprising a left longitudinal edge, a right longitudinal edge, a first end, and a second end, 
 a bottom side comprising a left longitudinal edge, a right longitudinal edge, a first end, and a second end, 
 a left folded side comprising an upper longitudinal edge, a lower longitudinal edge, a first end, and a second end, 
 a right folded side comprising an upper longitudinal edge, a lower longitudinal edge, a first end, and a second end; 
  wherein 
 the left longitudinal edge of the top side meets the upper longitudinal edge of the left folded side at an upper-left longitudinal edge, 
 the right longitudinal edge of the top side meets the upper longitudinal edge of the right folded side at an upper-right longitudinal edge, 
 the left longitudinal edge of the bottom side meets the lower longitudinal edge of the left folded side at a lower-left longitudinal edge, and 
 the right longitudinal edge of the bottom side meets the lower longitudinal edge of the right folded side at a lower-right longitudinal edge; 
   placing a dough product in the package,   sealing one of the ends before or after the placing step,   sealing the other end after the placing step,   
       wherein one or two ends of the package comprise a seal comprising:
 an upper-left connection formed between a left portion of an end of the top side and an end of an upper portion of the left folded side, the upper-left connection extending from a left fold in the left folded side to the upper-left longitudinal edge along a line that includes a directional component directed toward the opposite package end, 
 an upper-right connection formed between a right portion of an end of the top side and an end of an upper portion of the right folded side, the upper-right connection extending from a right fold in the right folded side to the upper-right longitudinal edge along a line that includes a directional component in a direction toward the opposite package end, 
 a lower-left connection formed between a left portion of an end of the bottom side and an end of a bottom portion of the left folded side, the lower-left connection extending from the left fold to the lower-left longitudinal edge along a line that includes a directional component in a direction toward the opposite package end, and 
 a lower-right connection formed between a right portion of an end of the bottom side and an end of a bottom portion of the right folded side, the lower-right connection extending from the right fold to the lower-right longitudinal edge along a line that includes a directional component in a direction toward the opposite package end. 
 
     
     
         13 . A method as recited at  claim 12  wherein the dough expands to produce a pressurized package interior. 
     
     
         14 . A method as recited at  claim 12  wherein the package comprises a vent. 
     
     
         15 . A method as recited at  claim 12  wherein one or more line is straight or curved. 
     
     
         16 . A method as recited at  claim 12  wherein the lines are straight; the upper-left connection, the lower-left connection, the upper-right connection, and the lower-right connection, meet at an apex; and the apex forms an angle in the range from 5 to 60 degrees. 
     
     
         17 . A method as recited at  claim 12  wherein the upper-left connection is further secured to the lower-left connection, and the upper-right connection is further secured to the lower-right connection. 
     
     
         18 . A method as recited at  claim 17  wherein one or more upper or lower portion of the left folded side or right folded side includes one or more aperture at a connection.