Flexible pouch with pressure relief valve

Abstract

A flexible pouch that includes a pressure relief valve and an associated barrier seal. The barrier seal separates and partially encloses a portion of the flexible pouch containing the pressure relief valve from a portion of the pouch containing product, such as a liquid. The barrier helps to ensure that only gases are released through the pressure relief valve, and further helps to prevent product from interfering with operation of the pressure relief valve.

1 . A flexible pouch having a product storage area, the flexible pouch comprising:
 a pressure relief valve; and   a seal positioned adjacent to the pressure relief valve, the seal positioned between the pressure relief valve and the product storage area so as to help block product in the product storage area from interfering with operation of the pressure relief valve.   
     
     
         2 . The flexible pouch of  claim 1  wherein the flexible pouch includes a front panel and a back panel, the pressure relief valve connected to one of the front panel or the back panel. 
     
     
         3 . The flexible pouch of  claim 1  wherein the pressure relief valve is a one way valve allowing gas to travel only in one direction through the pressure relief valve. 
     
     
         4 . The flexible pouch of  claim 3  wherein gas is only permitted to flow out of the pressure relief valve. 
     
     
         5 . The flexible pouch of  claim 1  wherein the flexible pouch includes a fitment, the pressure relief valve spaced apart from the fitment. 
     
     
         6 . The flexible pouch of  claim 1  wherein the seal extends partially around the pressure relief valve. 
     
     
         7 . The flexible pouch of  claim 1  wherein the seal is generally U-shaped where the bottom portion of the U-shape extends towards the product storage area. 
     
     
         8 . The flexible pouch of  claim 1  wherein the seal extends around at least 75% of the area around the pressure relief valve. 
     
     
         9 . The flexible pouch of  claim 1  wherein the flexible pouch includes at least one panel having at least two layers. 
     
     
         10 . The flexible pouch of  claim 9  wherein at least one layers is polyethylene terphalate (PET). 
     
     
         11 . The flexible pouch of  claim 10  wherein a second layer is provided aluminum foil. 
     
     
         12 . The flexible pouch of  claim 10  wherein a third layer is provided made of one EVOM, PET and/or polyethylene. 
     
     
         13 . The flexible pouch of  claim 1  wherein the pouch includes a handle portion. 
     
     
         14 . A flexible pouch comprising:
 a front panel and a back panel, the front panel and the back panel sealed together to define an interior, the interior having a product storage area;   a pressure release valve positioned on one of the front panel or the back panel, the pressure release valve spaced apart from the product storage area; and   a seal positioned adjacent to the pressure relief valve, the seal positioned between the pressure relief valve and the product storage area so as to help block product in the product storage area from interfering with operation of the pressure relief valve.   
     
     
         15 . The flexible pouch of  claim 14  wherein the pressure relief valve is a one way valve allowing gas to travel only in one direction through the pressure relief valve. 
     
     
         16 . The flexible pouch of  claim 16  wherein gas is only permitted to flow out of the pressure relief valve. 
     
     
         17 . The flexible pouch of  claim 14  wherein pouch includes a fitment, the pressure relief valve spaced apart from the fitment. 
     
     
         18 . The flexible pouch of  claim 14  wherein the seal extends partially around the pressure relief valve. 
     
     
         19 . The flexible pouch of  claim 14  wherein the seal is generally U-shaped where the bottom portion of the U-shape extends towards the product storage area. 
     
     
         20 . The flexible pouch of  claim 14  wherein the seal extends around at least 75% of the area around the pressure relief valve.