Stand-Up Flexible Container

Abstract

Non-durable self-supporting flexible containers can include a first film wall including a structural support volume defined in a first portion of the first film wall; a second film wall; and a bottom extending between the first and second film walls, the first and second film walls and the bottom defining a product volume. The bottom comprises a bottom face, and at least a portion of the bottom face is arranged to contact a horizontal support surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-durable flexible container, comprising
 a first film wall including a first portion that includes a structural support volume defined in the first film wall and a second portion that is free of a structural support volume;   a second film wall; and   a bottom extending between the first and second film walls, the first and second film walls and the bottom defining a product volume, wherein the container has a tip angle of about 10° to about 45°.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the structural support volume extends into the bottom such that the structural support volume comprises a bottom structural support volume region disposed below a top structural support volume region. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the bottom structural support volume region borders at least a portion of the perimeter of the bottom. 
     
     
         4 . The container of any  claim 2 , wherein the bottom structural support volume region is at least partially filled with one or more expansion materials. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom structural support volume region is arranged to contact a horizontal support surface. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a height area ratio of the container is about 0.05 cm −1  to about 3 cm −1 . 
     
     
         7 . The container  claim 1 , wherein:
 the container has a center of gravity height that varies with a product fill level of the product volume, and   a stability ratio of about 0.18 to about 1 when the product volume is about 100% filled with water having a density of 1 g/mL at 25° C.   
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a dispenser to dispense product enclosed in the product volume from the package; wherein, as product is dispensed from the package, a percent change in dimensionless work-to-tip the container varies from about 40% to about 190% from an initial value at 100% filled as a fill level of the product volume with fluent product varies from 100% filled to 0% filled, when filled with water having a density of 1 g/ml at 25° C. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the structural support volume is at least partially expanded with an expansion material selected from the group consisting of a gas, a liquid, a granular material, a semi-solid, a gel, a foam, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the expansion material is pressurized nitrogen. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the expansion material comprises at least one non-gas expansion material, wherein the non-gas expansion material comprises about 1% by volume to about 100% by volume of the structural support volume. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the structural support volume has a width that narrows in a region of the structural support volume adjacent to the bottom. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom comprises a substantially flat portion upon which the container at least partially stands. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the substantially flat portion comprises a plurality of substantially flat regions disposed in substantially the same plane. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the structural support volume borders the perimeter of the first wall and the perimeter of the bottom. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is a self-supporting container. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more side film walls extending between the first and second film walls. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a structural support volume defined in the second wall. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the structural support volume defined in the second wall is defined in the second wall. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container contacts a horizontal support surface at a set of discrete contact points, and upon application and removal of a force less than a force required to tip the container, the container comes to rest at the same set of discrete contact points.