Flexible Container with Tube Member

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a flexible container. In an embodiment, the flexible container includes a front panel, a rear panel, a first gusset side panel, and a second gusset side panel. The gusset side panels adjoin the front panel and the rear panel along (i) peripheral seals to form a chamber, and (ii) handle seals to form a handle, the handle located at an end of the chamber. The flexible container includes a tube member sealed to the flexible container. The tube member is in fluid communication with the chamber. The tube member comprises an ethylene/α-olefin multi-block copolymer.

1 . A flexible container comprising:
 a front panel, a rear panel, a first gusset side panel, and a second gusset side panel, the gusset side panels adjoining the front panel and the rear panel along
 (i) peripheral seals to form a chamber; and 
 (ii) handle seals to form a handle, the handle located at an end of the chamber; 
   a tube member sealed to the flexible container, the tube member in fluid communication with the chamber; and   the tube member comprising an ethylene/α-olefin multi-block copolymer.   
     
     
         2 . The flexible container of  claim 1  wherein the tube member is sealed between the front panel and the rear panel in a neck section of the flexible container. 
     
     
         3 . The flexible container of  claim 1  wherein the tube member is sealed between two panels along the peripheral seal in a transition section of the flexible container. 
     
     
         4 . The flexible container of  claim 1  wherein the tube member has an outer diameter from 0.5 mm to 50 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The flexible container of  claim 1  wherein the tube member is composed of a polymeric blend comprising from 60 wt % to 90 wt % of the ethylene/α-olefin multi-block copolymer and from 40 wt % to 10 wt % of a high density polyethylene. 
     
     
         6 . A flexible container comprising:
 a front panel, a rear panel, a first gusset side panel, and a second gusset side panel, the gusset side panels adjoining the front panel and the rear panel along
 (i) peripheral seals to form a chamber; and 
 (ii) handle seals to form a handle, the handle located at an end of the chamber and comprising a channel formed from the handle seals; and 
   a tube member sealed to the flexible container, the tube member in fluid communication with the chamber and located in the channel.   
     
     
         7 . The flexible container of  claim 6  wherein the tube member comprises an ethylene/α-olefin multi-block copolymer. 
     
     
         8 . The flexible container of  claim 7  wherein the tube member is composed of a polymeric blend comprising from 60 wt % to 90 wt % of the ethylene/α-olefin multi-block copolymer and from 40 wt % to 10 wt % of a high density polyethylene. 
     
     
         9 . The flexible container of  claim 6 , wherein the tube member is located in a handle leg. 
     
     
         10 . The flexible container of  claim 6 , wherein a proximate end of the tube member is in fluid communication with the chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The flexible container of  claim 6  wherein a distal end of the tube member is located in the handle; and
 the handle comprises an access member for exposing the distal end of the tube member. 
 
     
     
         12 . The flexible container of  claim 6  wherein the tube member has an outer diameter from 0.5 mm to 50 mm.