Multi-compartment pouch with single nozzle and method of making the same

Abstract

A package and method of filling it with flowable materials is disclosed. The package includes first, second and third panels form of flexible materials that are juxtaposed and fixedly secured to one another along a portion of their periphery to form a pair of isolated compartments and a common nozzle. The nozzle is arranged to be torn open and includes a pair of passageways in communication with respective ones of the compartments. Two of the panels include edges which are free (unsecured) to form respective mouths through which the flowable materials can be introduced into the compartments. Then those edges are sealed to hold the flowable materials within the compartments until the nozzle is torn open. At that time the flowable materials can simultaneous flow out of the package.

1 . A package for holding flowable materials in separate compartments isolated from each other, said package comprising a first panel of flexible material, a second panel of flexible material, and a third panel of flexible material, said first, second and third panels being fixedly secured to one another along a portion of the periphery of each of said panels to form a pair of compartments, a first one of said compartments being located between said first and second panel, a second one of said compartments being located between said second panel and said third panel, a portion of said first panel and said second panel being free from each other to form a first mouth to enable a flowable material to be introduced into said first compartment, a portion of said second panel and said third panel being free from each other to form a second mouth to enable a flowable material to be introduced into said second compartment, said first and second mouth being unaligned, said first and second mouths being sealable after flowable materials have been introduced into said first and second compartments. 
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1  additionally comprising a nozzle through which the flowable materials can be simultaneously dispensed. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 2  wherein said nozzle is formed by portions of said first, second and third panels. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 3  wherein said nozzle comprises a first passageway and a second passageway, said first passageway being formed by portions of said first and said second panels and being in fluid communication with said first compartment, said second passageway being formed by portions of said second and said third panels and being in fluid communication with said second compartment. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 4  wherein said first and second passageways are of the same size. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 4  wherein said first and second passageways are of different sizes. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 4  wherein said nozzle is initially sealed, but arranged to be opened when desired. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 7  wherein said portions of said panels forming said nozzle are tearable and wherein said nozzle comprises at least one notch to facilitate the tearing of said nozzle. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 4  wherein said nozzle is located at a corner of said package. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 4  wherein said nozzle is located at a side of said package. 
     
     
         11 . A multi-compartment package for holding flowable materials in at least two separate compartments isolated from each other, said package comprising a first panel of flexible material, a second panel of flexible material, and a third panel of flexible material, said first and said second panels being fixedly secured to each other to form a first compartment and a first passageway in communication with said first compartment, said second and said third panels being fixedly secured to each other to form a second compartment and a second passageway in communication with said second compartment, said first and second passageways being located immediately adjacent each other to form a nozzle, said nozzle arranged to be opened to effect the simultaneous opening of said first and second passageways for enabling the simultaneous dispensing of the flowable materials therethrough. 
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 11  wherein said first and second passageways are of the same size. 
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 11  wherein said first and second passageways are of different sizes. 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 11  wherein said nozzle is initially sealed, but arranged to be opened when desired. 
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 14  wherein said portions of said panels forming said nozzle are tearable and wherein said nozzle comprises at least one notch to facilitate the tearing of said nozzle. 
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 11  wherein said nozzle is located at a corner of said package. 
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 11  wherein said nozzle is located at a side of said package. 
     
     
         18 . A method of filing and sealing a multi-compartment flexible package, said method comprising:
 providing a first panel of flexible film material, a second panel of flexible film material, and a third panel of flexible film material, said first, second and third panels being fixedly secured to one another along a portion of the periphery of each of said panels to form a pair of compartments, a first one of said compartments being located between said first and second panel, a second one of said compartments being located between said second panel and said third panel, a portion of said first panel and said second panel being free from each other to form a first mouth to enable a flowable material to be introduced into said first compartment, a portion of said second panel and said third panel being free from each other to form a second mouth to enable a flowable material to be introduced into said second compartment, said first and second mouths being unaligned;   grasping portions of said first and second panels at said first mouth to open said first mouth;   introducing a flowable material through said first open mouth into said first compartment;   sealing said first mouth to hold the flowable material in said first compartment;   grasping portions of said second and third panels at said second mouth to open said second mouth;   introducing a flowable material through said second open mouth into said second compartment; and   sealing said second mouth to hold the flowable material in said second compartment.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the opening of said first mouth is accomplished by use of a pair of movable film-grasping jaws and the opening of said second mouth is accomplished by use of a pair of movable film-grasping jaws. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said pair of movable film-grasping jaws for opening said second mouth is a different pair of movable film-grasping jaws for opening said first mouth. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said pair of movable film-grasping jaws for opening said second mouth is the same pair of movable film-grasping jaws for opening said first mouth. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the sealing of said first mouth is accomplished by use of a pair of movable heat-sealing jaws and the sealing of said second mouth is accomplished by use of a pair of movable heat-sealing jaws. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said pair of movable heat-sealing jaws for sealing said second mouth is a different pair of movable heat-sealing jaws for sealing said first mouth. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said pair of movable heat-sealing jaws for sealing said second mouth is the same pair of movable heat-sealing jaws for sealing said first mouth.