Flexible pouch and dock system

1. A system for dispensing a liquid comprising:

A. a pouch for placement into a dock, the pouch comprising

(i) a flexible body and a base forming a closed chamber for holding a liquid;

(ii) a closure for dispensing the liquid, the closure attached to a lower portion of the body;

(iii) a front flexible film and a rear flexible film, the front flexible film and the rear flexible film sealed around a common peripheral edge; and

(iv) a first flute and a second flute on opposing sides of the common peripheral edge;

B. a dock comprising

(i) a floor having a peripheral edge;

(ii) a waist surrounding the peripheral edge and extending upward from the floor, the waist and the floor defining a seat for receiving the base;

(iii) a front panel and a rear panel extending upward from opposing sides of the waist, the front panel and the rear panel separated by a gap; and

(iv) an orifice on a front surface of the waist, the orifice for receiving the closure;

(v) a first U-shaped edge and a second U-shaped edge on opposing sides of the waist;

wherein an upper end of the front panel stands freely with respect to an upper end of the rear panel; and the first flute contacts the first U-shaped edge and the second flute contacts the second U-shaped edge.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the dock is a single-piece article composed of a molded polymeric material.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the rear panel has a shape that is a mirror image of the front panel shape.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the dock comprises a tapered portion at a lower end of the gap.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the tapered portion comprises the U-shaped edges.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the front panel and the rear panel are moveable with respect to each other.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein applying pressure on a panel dispenses liquid from the pouch when the closure is in the open position.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the base comprises a gusset rim, the gusset rim located in the seat.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein

the front flexible film and the rear flexible film of the pouch are sealed around a common peripheral edge to form a flexible body having a closed top and an open bottom;

a base attached to the open bottom of the body, the base and body defining a chamber for holding a liquid;

a hole through a lower portion of the front flexible film;

a closure attached to the hole, the closure comprising

(i) a collar having a duct in fluid communication with the hole;

(ii) a housing attached to the collar, the housing having a port in fluid communication with the duct; and

(iii) a spout pivotally attached to the housing, the spout having a channel through which the liquid is dispensed;

wherein the housing comprises a recess adapted to receive the spout when the closure is in a closed position; a rim of the housing and an outer surface of the spout are coplanar when the closure is in the closed position; and a proximate end of the spout comprises a first pin and a second pin, the pins frictionally engaged with a respective first well and a second well of the housing, the pins and the wells permitting pivotal engagement between the spout and the housing.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the base comprises a gusset rim, the gusset rim defining a footprint having an ellipsoid shape.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the closure extends radially outward from the body.

12. The system of claim 9 where the collar is attached to an outer surface of the front film.

13. The system of claim 9 comprising a heat seal around the common peripheral edge.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the first pin and the second pin are perpendicular to the channel.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the closure has an open position and a proximate end of the channel is in fluid communication with the port, permitting the liquid to flow through the channel.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein a distal end of the spout extends radially outward from the housing when the closure is in the open position.

17. The system of claim 9 wherein the closure has a closed position and a proximate end of the channel is out of fluid communication with the port, blocking liquid flow from the channel.

18. The system of claim 9 wherein the spout comprises a distal flange.

19. The system of claim 9 wherein the container comprises from 90 wt % to 100 wt % ethylene-based polymer.