U.S. patent application number 13/597092 was filed with the patent office on 2013-04-04 for food pouch with spout and zip lock.
The applicant listed for this patent is James Richard Cross. Invention is credited to James Richard Cross.
Application Number | 20130084028 13/597092 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47992663 |
Filed Date | 2013-04-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130084028 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cross; James Richard |
April 4, 2013 |
Food pouch with spout and zip lock
Abstract
The invention relates to a disposable pouch having a function
for storing, transporting, and serving food with both a spout and a
zip lock like device, to promote expeditious storage and serving of
food into and from the top section of the pouch.
Inventors: |
Cross; James Richard;
(Melbourne, AU) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Cross; James Richard |
Melbourne |
|
AU |
|
|
Family ID: |
47992663 |
Appl. No.: |
13/597092 |
Filed: |
August 28, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/33 ;
383/63 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/008 20130101;
B65D 33/2508 20130101; B65D 75/5883 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/33 ;
383/63 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/00 20060101
B65D033/00; B65D 33/16 20060101 B65D033/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 4, 2011 |
AU |
2011904085 |
Claims
1. A disposable pouch for storing, transporting, and serving
comprising: two flexible sidewalls sealed to one another to define
an opening. A zip lock device and spout provided in a fused state
between flexible plastic sheets whose outer periphery is
sealed.
2. The disposable pouch of claim 1, where in the pouch may be
re-used instead of being disposed.
3. The disposable pouch of claim 1, wherein the pouch may be
provided in a pre-sterilized state providing a sterile chamber in
which to insert food contents.
4. The disposable pouch of claim 1, wherein the bottom horizontal
face of the pouch consists of an expandable flexible plastic upside
down V shaped cross section forming a gusset which, when not in
use, collapses. When in use the section is expandable allowing the
base to support the pouch itself when placed on a flat surface.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a pouch being disposable or
re-usable to be used for storing, transporting, and serving liquid
food. The invention particularly relates to a plastic pouch with a
zip lock device running horizontally along the top section of the
pouch with a plastic spout directly underneath the zip-lock device
on the vertical face of the pouch. The spout facilitates the
pouring, serving and removal of the liquid food to be stored inside
the pouch. The zip lock device facilitates the insertion of liquid
food as well as having a sealing mechanism allowing the pouch to be
sealed and air tight for storage and transporting. Thus the pouch
described provides a caregiver an all in one solution to store and
serve liquid food.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY
[0002] The disposable pouch with spout and zip lock device
described herein are designed to create a convenient system for
storage, transport, and serving of food. During use home-made or
purchased foods such as soups, baby food or liquid foods are poured
into the pouch through the zip-lock opening which is sealed during
storage and transportation. When serving the cap on the spout is
removed and food is ejected through the spout by squeezing main
body of the pouch whilst the zip lock is closed.
[0003] An important aspect of this invention therefore, lies in
providing a separate spout as well as a zip lock device at the top
section of the pouch in which to pour the food in and out of the
pouch and provide an air tight seal during storage and
transportation.
[0004] Air may be ejected from the spout and zip lock device when
in an open formation, thus creating an air vacuum when the zip lock
device is in a closed formation and cap is screwed onto the spout
creating an airtight seal assisting to keep the food contents of
the pouch fresh during storage.
[0005] Briefly the pouch consists of two flexible sidewalls sealed
to one another to define an opening. The bottom horizontal face of
the pouch consists of an expandable flexible plastic upside down V
shaped cross section forming a gusset which, when not in use,
collapses. When in use the section is expandable allowing the base
to support the pouch itself when placed on a flat surface.
[0006] A zip lock device runs along the top of the pouch. The zip
lock device opening is designed to allow access for food to be
poured into the pouch and for the pouch to be sealed. A plastic
spout is positioned on the top vertical corner of the pouch and is
used to release the contents of the pouch. The importance of having
both a zip lock seal along the top of the pouch as well as a
separate plastic spout on the top vertical face of the pouch is to
allow for convenient insertion and removal of food from the
pouch.
[0007] The transparency of the pouch allows a user to see the
contents of the pouch during storage, warming and serving. To use
the food pouch to store, heat and serve food, the pouch can stand
upright on a flat surface using the self standing design.
[0008] Other features, advantages and objects will become apparent
from the specifications and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 Is a front view of an example of the pouch 2 with
spout 3 and zip lock 4 device.
[0010] FIG. 2 Is a bottom view of an example of the pouch 2 with
spout 3 and zip lock 4 device.
[0011] FIG. 3 Is a side view of an example of the pouch 2 with
spout 3 and zip lock 4 device.
[0012] FIG. 4 Is a cross sectional view of the zip lock 4 device
used in the pouch 2 with spout 3 and zip lock 4 device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] In FIG. 1 a disposable food pouch 2 is illustrated. The
pouch 2 is made of a flexible plastic and/or durable material. The
main body of the pouch 2 consist of two flexible sheets 8, 9 which
are fused together at the edges 5 forming an airtight and
waterproof seal. The fusing of the two flexible sheets forms a
pouch 2 in which liquid food can be stored. FIG. 1 also illustrates
an opening means to the pouch 2 via the use of a zip lock 4 device.
In FIG. 1 the spout 3 component of the pouch 2 can be clearly
identified. An outlet is created through a rigid plastic material
to form the spout 3. This part is fused to the upper section of the
pouch 2 directly below the zip-lock 4 seal. The spout 3 is designed
to be a contents dispenser or outlet. The spout 3 is fixed to the
main body of the pouch 2 by being fused to the inner layers of the
two main flexible sheets 8, 9 that form the main body of the pouch
2. The spout 3 may include a thread 12 used to screw on a cap 13 to
temporarily seal the outlet and prevent liquids from escaping and
creating an airtight seal during transportation, storage and
handling. The cap 13 is designed to screw onto the spout 3 using a
corresponding thread to match the thread 12 of the spout 3 so when
screwed on to the spout 3 the cap 13 will created an air tight
seal.
[0014] FIG. 2 depicts the bottom view of the pouch 2. The sides of
the pouch 2 can further include a fold 6 that allows the dimensions
of the pouch 2 to vary depending on whether the pouch 2 is empty or
full and/or whether the top of the pouch 2 is open or sealed. The
bottom section of the pouch 2 can have a greater diameter than the
top of the pouch 2, this allowing the pouch 2 to stand upright
unassisted which is an important feature of the invention in
combination with the spout 3 and zip lock 4 seal.
[0015] FIG. 3 depicts the side view of the pouch 2 and further
illustrates the self standing design of the pouch 2 when the pouch
2 is filled with contents. In one embodiment the top of the front
of the pouch 2 and the bottom of the front of the pouch 2 differ in
size. As shown in FIG. 2 when the pouch 2 is sealed the side of the
pouch 2 can differ in size allowing the pouch 2 to stand upright
without assistance. The bottom of the pouch 2 can be of a greater
width and/or length than the top of the pouch 2. In this
configuration the sides of the pouch 2 angle outwards from the top
of the pouch 2 to the bottom of the pouch 2 allowing the pouch 2 to
stand upright without assistance.
[0016] FIG. 4 depicts the zip lock 4 mechanism. The zip lock 4
mechanism includes a zip fastener 10 and a lock fastener 11
integrally provided on the first and second surfaces respectively.
The zip fastener 10 has two zip bodies spacedly and integrally
extended from the first surface and a coupling groove extending
towards the first surface at a position between two inner walls of
the zip bodies. The lock fastener 11 has two locking arms spacedly
and integrally extended from the second surface and a sealing arm
integrally extended from the second surface at a position between
the two locking arms to form two sealing cavities, wherein the
sealing arm is sealedly inserted into the coupling groove until the
round end of the sealing arm is positioned at the round end of the
coupling groove. The zip lock 4 seal is positioned at the top
section of the pouch 2 and is fused to the main body 8, 9 of the
pouch 2 in a lengthwise direction at both end portions of the zip
lock 4. The positioning of the zip lock 4 is such that it is
sandwiched between the two main walls 8, 9 of the pouch 2, so that
it forms an air tight seal when closed.
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