Package opening support

Abstract

A package, such as a bag or stand-up pouch, is described that includes a built-in opening support that can be actuated by the user to maintain the package in an open or wide-open configuration, thereby preventing or reducing the need to manually keep the front and back panels of the package separated as product is accessed. The opening support may be disposed near the opening end of at least one of the front or back panels and may be designed to be moved from an inactive position to an active position. In the inactive position, the opening support is disposed along one of the front panel or the back panel, whereas in the active position, the opening support extends between the front panel and the back panel, across a corresponding longitudinal seam of the package, to maintain the opening of the package in a wide-open position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A package comprising:
 a front panel defining an opening end, a base end, and two side edges;   a back panel defining an opening end, a base end, and two side edges, wherein the back panel is connected to the front panel via longitudinal seams formed along respective side edges of the front and back panels; and   an opening support disposed proximate the opening end of and on an outer surface of at least one of the front or back panels, the opening support configured to be moved from an inactive position to an active position, wherein the opening end of the front panel and the opening end of the back panel define an opening of the package configured to provide access to contents of the package when the package is opened by a user,   wherein, in the inactive position, the opening support is disposed along one of the front panel or the back panel, and wherein, in the active position, the opening support extends between the front panel and the back panel, across a corresponding longitudinal seam, to maintain the opening of the package in a wide-open position.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the opening support comprises a flexible strip of material defining a first end and a second end, wherein, in the inactive position, both the first end and the second end of the flexible strip of material are removably attached to one of the front panel or the back panel, and wherein, in the active position, the first end of the flexible strip of material is removably attached to one of the front or back panels and the second end of the flexible strip of material is removably attached to the other of the front or back panels, such that the flexible strip of material spans the corresponding longitudinal seam. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second ends include a region of pressure sensitive adhesive configured to removably attach the flexible strip of material to a respective one of the front or back panels. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the opening support comprises a flexible strip of material defining a first end and a second end, wherein, in the inactive position, the first end is fixedly attached to one of the front panel or the back panel and the second end is removably attached to the same one of the front panel or the back panel, and wherein, in the active position, the second end is configured to attach to the other of the front panel or the back panel, such that the flexible strip of material spans the corresponding longitudinal seam. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 4 , wherein the second end includes a region of pressure sensitive adhesive configured to removably attach the flexible strip of material to a respective one of the front or back panels in the active position. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 5 , wherein when in the active position, the flexible strip of material folds over onto itself to span the longitudinal seam. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 6 , wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is located on the outward-facing surface of the second end. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 5 , wherein when in the active position, the flexible strip of material folds over onto itself twice to span the longitudinal seam. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 8 , wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is located on the inward-facing surface of the second end. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 1  further comprising a base panel connecting the base end of the front panel to the base end of the back panel, such that the package is a stand-up pouch. 
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein a single opening support is present. 
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein in the active position, the opening support applies tension across the longitudinal seam and pulls the front and back panels away from each other. 
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the front and back panel comprises a laminate structure having at least an outer film layer and an inner film layer, and wherein the opening support is a part of the outer film layer. 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 13 , wherein the opening support is scored or die cut in the outer film layer. 
     
     
         15 . A package comprising:
 a front panel defining an opening end, a base end, a first side edge and a second side edge;   a back panel defining an opening end, a base end, a first side edge and a second side edge, wherein the back panel is connected to the front panel via a first longitudinal seam formed along the first side edge of the front panel and the first side edge of the back panel, and wherein the back panel is additionally connected to the front panel via a second longitudinal seam formed along the second side edge of the front panel and the second side edge of the back panel; and   a flexible polymeric opening support disposed proximate the opening end of at least one of the front or back panels, the opening support configured to be moved from an inactive position to an active position, wherein the opening end of the front panel and the opening end of the back panel define an opening of the package configured to provide access to contents of the package when the package is opened by a user,   wherein, in the inactive position, the opening support is disposed along one of the front panel or the back panel, and wherein, in the active position, the opening support extends from the front panel to the back panel, across a corresponding longitudinal seam, to maintain the opening of the package in a wide-open position.   
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 15 , wherein the opening support is disposed on an outer surface of the package. 
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 15 , wherein the opening support is disposed on an inner surface of the package. 
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 15 , wherein only one opening support is present. 
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing a package including an opening support, the method comprising:
 forming a front panel defining an opening end, a base end, and two side edges;   attaching a back panel defining an opening end, a base end, and two side edges to the front panel via longitudinal seams formed along respective side edges of the front and back panels; and   disposing an opening support proximate the opening end of and on an outer surface of at least one of the front or back panels, the opening support configured to be moved from an inactive position to an active position,   wherein the opening end of the front panel and the opening end of the back panel define an opening of the package configured to provide access to contents of the package when the package is opened by a user,   wherein, in the inactive position, the opening support is disposed along one of the front panel or the back panel, and   wherein, in the active position, the opening support extends between the front panel and the back panel, across a corresponding longitudinal seam, to maintain the opening of the package in a wide-open position.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising applying pressure sensitive adhesive to at least one of the first or second ends to form a respective region of pressure sensitive adhesive configured to removably attach the flexible opening support to a respective one of the front or back panels. 
     
     
         21 . A method of manufacturing a package including an opening support, the method comprising:
 forming a front panel defining an opening end, a base end, and two side edges;   attaching a back panel defining an opening end, a base end, and two side edges to the front panel via longitudinal seams formed along respective side edges of the front and back panels; and   disposing a flexible polymeric opening support proximate the opening end of at least one of the front or back panels, the opening support configured to be moved from an inactive position to an active position,   wherein the opening end of the front panel and the opening end of the back panel define an opening of the package configured to provide access to contents of the package when the package is opened by a user,   wherein, in the inactive position, the opening support is disposed along one of the front panel or the back panel, and   wherein, in the active position, the opening support extends between the front panel and the back panel, across a corresponding longitudinal seam, to maintain the opening of the package in a wide-open position.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising applying pressure sensitive adhesive to at least one of the first or second ends to form a respective region of pressure sensitive adhesive configured to removably attach the flexible opening support to a respective one of the front or back panels.