Cuboid pouches or packaging and methods for making and using the same

Abstract

Cuboid pouches or packaging, specifically pouches or packaging having a cuboid shape such as pouches or packaging having, roughly, six sides and roughly in the shape of a cube, a rectangular prism, or other similar shape, are provided. The cuboid pouches or packaging preferably include an extended lip or seal, providing an opening and/or a hanging element. Preferably, the cuboid packaging may be made from plastic film, although other materials may also be used, such as coated paper, paperboard, flexible cardstock, or combinations of the same. Methods for making and using the same are further provided.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A cuboid-shaped pouch or package comprising:
 a front side surface, a rear side surface, a left side surface, a right side surface, a top side surface, and a bottom side surface;   an interior volume within the cuboid pouch or package; and   an opening in a top surface thereof, wherein the opening comprises a pathway for adding materials to or removing materials from the interior volume of the cuboid pouch or package,   wherein the right side surface and the left side surface each comprise a heat seal extending from corners thereof toward the center of the right and left side surfaces.   
     
     
         2 . The cuboid-shaped pouch or package of  claim 1  wherein the cuboid pouch or package is made from a material comprising a thermoplastic film, a coated paper, or a paperboard. 
     
     
         3 . The cuboid-shaped pouch or package of  claim 2  wherein the material comprises a heat sealable layer. 
     
     
         4 . The cuboid-shaped pouch or package of  claim 1  wherein the opening extends from the right side surface and the left side surface across the top side surface. 
     
     
         5 . The cuboid-shaped pouch or package of  claim 1  wherein the opening comprises a closure. 
     
     
         6 . The cuboid-shaped pouch or package of  claim 1  wherein the heat seal in right side surface and the left side surface, respectively, each comprise a V-shaped seal extending from the top corners and further wherein each comprise an upside-down V-shaped seal extending from the bottom corners. 
     
     
         7 . The cuboid-shaped pouch or package of  claim 6  further comprising a linear seal extending from the V-shaped seal and the upside down V-shaped seal. 
     
     
         8 . The cuboid shaped pouch or package of  claim 1  further comprising a first lip or flap extending from the top side surface. 
     
     
         9 . The cuboid shaped pouch or package of  claim 8  wherein the first lip or flap extends from a corner between the rear side surface and the top surface thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The cuboid shaped pouch or package of  claim 8  wherein the first lip or flap extends from a corner between the front side surface and the top surface thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The cuboid shaped pouch or package of  claim 8  further comprising a second lip or flap extending from the top side surface. 
     
     
         12 . The cuboid shaped pouch or package of  claim 11  wherein the first lip or flap extends from a first corner between the rear side surface and the top surface thereof and wherein the second lip or flap extends from a second corner between the front side surface and the top surface thereof. 
     
     
         13 . A method of making a cuboid pouch or package, the method comprising the step of:
 forming a multilayer film by folding a first film over itself or sealing a first film to a second film, wherein the multilayer film comprises a sealed first side and an open second side;   folding first and second sides of the multilayer film inwardly to form first and second gussets within the first and second sides of the multilayer film forming a film structure;   attaching a closure to the open second side of the two layer film;   applying heat seal bars across the film structure to form heat seals across the film structure to form sealed ends of the film structure;   cutting across the film structure near or adjacent the heat seals to form a plurality of lay flat film structure configurations in a side-by-side arrangement;   expanding the gussets and pushing the sealed ends inwardly to form the cuboid pouch or package.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of:
 extending a lip or flap from the open second side of the multilayer film. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the closure is adjacent the lip or flap. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the closure is a plastic zipper, a tape, an adhesive, a hook and loop fastener, or a magnetic fastener. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the heat seals of each film structure configuration is in the shape of an X pattern. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the heat seals of each film structure configuration is in the shape of a V on a top of the sealed end of the film structure, an upside down V on a bottom of the sealed end of the film structure, and a line between the V and the upside down V. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of;
 filling the cuboid pouch with material. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of:
 printing indicia on at least one face of the cuboid pouch or package.