Self-standing pouch

Abstract

A self-standing pouch is provided. The pouch includes a pouch body and a flap. The flap is disposed beneath the pouch body. The flap may be folded so as to form a generally planar surface disposed at the bottom of the pouch. The planar surface is operable to support the pouch in a generally upright manner. The pouch may include a fitment and a pair of gussets. The fitment may be disposed at the top of the pouch, or on a portion of the pouch body. The fitment is operable to provide access to the pouch contents. The gussets help the pouch expand during pouch filling operations and as contents of the flap are displaced into the pouch body when the flap is folded to form the planar surface.

1 . A pouch formed from a sheet of pliable material and operable to hold itself in an upright manner, the pouch configured to hold a liquid, the pouch comprising:
 a pouch body portion configured to hold the liquid;   a flap portion integrally formed to the body portion and configured to hold a portion of the liquid; the flap portion may be folded so as to form a generally planar surface, wherein liquid in the flap portion is displaced into the pouch body portion, the generally planar surface operable to support the pouch in a generally upright manner.   
     
     
         2 . The pouch body as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the flap portion is narrower than the pouch body portion so as to be tapered. 
     
     
         3 . The pouch body as set forth in  claim 1 , further including a pair of gussets, one of the pair of gussets formed on one side of the pouch body, and the other of the pair of gussets formed on the other side of the pouch body. 
     
     
         4 . The pouch body as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the flap portion includes an adhesive portion formed on the outer surface of the flap portion, the adhesive portion operable to hold a portion of the flap portion against a portion of the pouch body. 
     
     
         5 . The pouch body as set forth in  claim 1 , further including tape operable to hold a portion of the flap portion against a portion of the pouch body. 
     
     
         6 . The pouch body as set forth in  claim 1 , further including a fitment mounted to the pouch body, the fitment providing access to the contents of the pouch. 
     
     
         7 . A pouch configured to hold itself in an upright manner, the pouch comprising:
 a pair of sheets of pliable material, each of the pair of sheets of pliable material having side edges, a pouch body portion and a flap portion, the side edges of respective sheets seal to each other so as to form a pouch body and a flap, the flap operable to be folded onto a portion of the pouch body so as to define a generally planar surface at the base of the pouch body, the planar surface operable to support the pouch in an upright manner.   
     
     
         8 . The pouch as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the pair of sheets of pliable material is one selected from the group consisting of treated polymer or aluminum foil. 
     
     
         9 . The pouch body as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the distal end of the flap is narrower than the pouch body so as to be tapered. 
     
     
         10 . The pouch body as set forth in  claim 7 , further including a pair of gussets, one of the pair of gussets formed on one side of the pouch body, and the other of the pair of gussets formed on the other side of the pouch body. 
     
     
         11 . The pouch body as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the flap includes an adhesive portion formed on the outer surface of the flap portion, the adhesive portion operable to hold a portion of the flap portion against a portion of the pouch body. 
     
     
         12 . The pouch body as set forth in  claim 7 , further including tape operable to hold a portion of the flap portion against a portion of the pouch body. 
     
     
         13 . The pouch body as set forth in  claim 7 , further including a fitment mounted to the pouch body, the fitment providing access to the contents of the pouch.