Flexible containers with easily variable sizing

Inventors: Tadayoshi Ishihara (West Chester, OH); Joseph Craig Lester (Liberty Township, OH); Benjamin Jacob Clare (Cincinnati, OH); Marc Richard Bourgeois (Liberty Township, OH); Richard Matthew Giachetto (Loveland, OH); Gavin John Broad (Liberty Township, OH); Scott Kendyl Stanley (Mason, OH); Kenneth Stephen McGuire (Montgomery, OH); Lee Mathew Arent (Fairfield, OH); Jun You (West Chester, OH); Charles John Berg, Jr. (Wyoming, OH)

Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company

B65D75/008 B31B70/00 B31B2150/00 B31B2160/20

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 11,091,306
App. No.: 15/826,941
Granted: Aug 17, 2021
Kind: B2

External Links

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Abstract

Non-durable self-supporting flexible containers with easily variable sizing. Line ups of flexible containers have similar sizes, shapes, and constructions, but hold differing amounts of fluent product at unexpected fill heights.

Claims (57)

1. A line-up of two or more flexible containers for retail sale of one or more fluent products, the line-up comprising:

a first disposable self-supporting flexible container, configured for retail sale, having a first structural support frame, a first overall front profile having a first panel, and a first product space with a first total capacity, the first panel overlaying the first product space and the first structural support frame containing one or more first expansion materials that are one or more first gases, the first structural support frame being adapted to make the first container stand upright; and

a second disposable self-supporting flexible container, configured for retail sale, having a second structural support frame, a second overall front profile that has substantially the same size and shape as the first overall front profile and having a second panel, and a second product space with a second total capacity that is a particular percentage that is between 5% and 70% less than the first total capacity, the second panel overlaying the second product space and the second structural support frame containing one or more second expansion materials that are one or more second gases, the second structural support frame being adapted to make the second container stand upright.

2. The line-up of claim 1 , wherein the particular percentage is between 10% and 60%.

3. The line-up of claim 1 , wherein the second overall front profile has the same size and shape as the first overall front profile.

4. The line-up of claim 1 , wherein:

the first container includes a first squeeze panel with a first squeeze panel profile; and

the second container includes a second squeeze panel with a second squeeze panel profile that is substantially the same as the first squeeze panel profile.

5. The line-up of claim 4 , wherein the second squeeze panel profile is the same as the first squeeze panel profile.

6. The line-up of claim 1 , wherein:

the first container includes a first squeeze panel;

the second container includes a second squeeze panel; and

the second squeeze panel is less extensible than the first squeeze panel.

7. The line-up of claim 1 , wherein:

the first container includes a first squeeze panel made from one or more first flexible materials having a first overall modulus of elasticity;

the second container includes a second squeeze panel made from one or more second flexible materials having a second overall modulus of elasticity; and

the second overall modulus of elasticity is greater than the first overall modulus of elasticity.

8. The line-up of claim 1 , wherein:

the first container includes a first squeeze panel made from one or more first flexible materials;