Stand-up pouch

Abstract

A pouch formed of sheeted material for use to contain a liquid is provided. The pouch comprises first and second walls formed by the sheeted material with each wall having peripheral edges; a body having a base, first and second upper body side edges, and first and second lower body side edges; a neck integrally formed with the body; and an internal reservoir defined by the body and the neck between the walls and above the base. The pouch generally has a broad base and a narrow neck. When the internal reservoir is filled with a liquid and the pouch is sealed, the pouch stands on the base on a supporting surface, and is stable in an upright position.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A pouch formed of sheeted material for use to contain a liquid, said pouch comprising: 
 first and second walls formed by said sheeted material, each wall having peripheral edges;    a body having a base, and first and second upper body side edges, and first and second lower body side edges;    a neck integrally formed with said body, said neck having a top edge, and first and second neck side edges; and    an internal reservoir defined by said body and said neck between said walls and above said base;    wherein said first and second lower body side edges extend between said base and said respective first and second upper body side edges, forming first and second base corners and first and second body corners, respectively, and wherein said first and second lower body side edges are angularly directed away from said base such that the distance between said first and second body corners is greater than the distance between said first and second base corners; and    wherein said internal reservoir is formed when said peripheral edges of said first and second walls are in an opposed relationship and are in contact each with the other;    whereby when said internal reservoir of said pouch is filled with a liquid and said pouch is sealed, said pouch stands on said base on a supporting surface, and is stable in an upright position.    
     
     
         2 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein said pouch is formed from said sheeted material such that at least one of said first and second upper body side edges, said top edge of said neck, and said base, is a fold between said first and second walls so as to be seamless.  
     
     
         3 . The pouch of  claim 2 , wherein said pouch is formed from said sheeted material in the form of a tube such that said top edge of said neck and said base are seamless.  
     
     
         4 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein said body further comprises first and second shoulders which extend inwardly from said respective first and second upper body side edges and terminate at said neck, and wherein said neck extends upwardly from said first and second shoulders.  
     
     
         5 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein said pouch is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis extending from a midpoint of said top edge of said neck to a midpoint of said base.  
     
     
         6 . The pouch of  claim 4 , wherein said pouch is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis extending from a midpoint of said top edge of said neck to a midpoint of said base; and 
 wherein said pouch is one of a plurality of similar pouches, and each one of said pouches is in a complementary fashion one to another during the pouch formation process, whereby said neck of a first pouch is adjacent to said body of a second pouch, and said body of said first pouch is adjacent to said neck of said second pouch.    
     
     
         7 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second lower body side edges are angularly directed away from said base in such a manner that each of said first and second lower body side edges forms an exterior angle between 50 to 70 degrees relative to said base when said pouch is in a flattened empty condition.  
     
     
         8 . The pouch of  claim 7 , wherein said exterior angle is between 55 to 65 degrees when said pouch is in a flattened empty condition.  
     
     
         9 . The pouch of  claim 8 , wherein said exterior angle is 60 degrees when said pouch is in a flattened empty condition.  
     
     
         10 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second lower body side edges are chosen from the group of geometric elements consisting of a straight line extending between said base and said respective first and second upper body side edges, a curved line extending between said base and said respective first and second upper body side edges, and a sawtooth extending between said base and said respective first and second upper body side edges.  
     
     
         11 . The pouch of  claim 10 , wherein said first and second lower body side edges are curved lines, and wherein said curved line is chosen from the group of curvilinear elements consisting of a portion of an ellipse, a portion of a parabola, a portion of a circle, and a portion of a hyperbola.  
     
     
         12 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein said neck additionally comprises first and second top side edges extending outwardly from said respective first and second neck side edges to said top edge of said neck, forming first and second top side corners, such that said top edge of said neck defines a distance less than the distance between said first and second top side corners.  
     
     
         13 . The pouch of  claim 12 , wherein said pouch is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis extending from a midpoint of said top edge of said neck to a midpoint of said base; and 
 wherein said pouch is one of a plurality of similar pouches, and each one of said pouches is in a complementary fashion one to another during the pouch formation process, whereby one of said first and second top side edges of said neck of a first pouch is adjacent to one of said first and second lower body side edges of said body of a second pouch.    
     
     
         14 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein said sheeted material is chosen from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, aluminum foil, aluminium metallized film, and combinations thereof and therebetween.  
     
     
         15 . The pouch of  claim 14 , wherein said sheeted material forming the inside surfaces of said pouch is polyethylene, and said sheeted material forming the outside surfaces of said pouch is polyester.  
     
     
         16 . The pouch of  claim 14 , wherein said pouch is extruded in such a manner that said pouch has a crosswise grain.  
     
     
         17 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein said pouch has at least one notch along one of said first and second neck side edges so as to facilitate tearing of said neck to access the liquid contained therein.