Flexible plastic container

Abstract

A flexible polymeric container for storing and dispensing liquids includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall connected together to define a fluid chamber therebetween. The first sidewall and the second sidewall each have an inner surface facing the fluid chamber and an opposed outer surface. A fitment is attached to an outer surface of one of the first sidewall or the second sidewall. The fitment has an opening therethrough which has an axis substantially perpendicular to the outer surface. A plurality of objects on the inner surface of one of the first sidewall or the second sidewall defines a plurality of pathways having at least a first pathway and a second pathway intersecting one another.

1 . A flexible polymeric container for storing and dispensing liquids comprising: 
 a first sidewall and a second sidewall connected together to define a fluid chamber therebetween, the first sidewall and the second sidewall each having an inner surface facing the fluid chamber and an opposed outer surface;    a fitment attached to the first sidewall or the second sidewall, the fitment having an opening therethrough having an axis substantially perpendicular to the outer surface;    a plurality of objects on the inner surface of one of the first sidewall or the second sidewall, the objects including a first set of objects with a first shape and a second set of objects with a second shape different from the first shape to define a pattern of a plurality of pathways having at least a first pathway and a second pathway intersecting one another, the first pathway and the second pathway each having a depth of greater than 1 mil but less than 8 mils.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the pattern is generally a checkerboard pattern.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein each of the first set of objects has a generally circular shape.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein each of the first set of objects has a polygonal shape.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein each of the first set of objects has an irregular shape.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1  wherein each of the first set of objects is generally S-shaped.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 6  wherein the S-shaped objects extend from a first end of the container to a second end of the container.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the pattern extends over an entire surface of the first sidewall or the second sidewall.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of pathways are of a depth of less than 5 mils.  
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of pathways are of a depth of a range of 1 mil to 4 mils.  
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 1  wherein each of the first set of objects is generally teardrop shaped and each of the second set of objects is generally circular shaped.  
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the container further includes a separate piece of flexible material secured to the sidewall of the container in an area behind the opening of the fitment.  
   
   
       13 . A method for evacuating a fluid from a container comprising the steps of: 
 providing a liquid filled container having a sidewall having an inner surface;    providing a plurality of objects on the inner surface of the sidewall, the objects including a first set of objects with a first shape and a second set of objects with a second shape different from the first shape to define a plurality of channels having at least a first channel and a second channel intersecting one another, the first channel and the second channel each having a depth of greater than 1 mil but less than 8 mils;    providing a fitment attached to of the sidewall, the fitment having an opening therethrough having an axis substantially perpendicular to the outer surface; and    applying a suction to the fitment to draw fluid from the container.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein in the step of applying suction to draw fluid from the container, the fluid is substantially completely drawn from the container.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the container is placed inside of a box before applying suction to the fitment.  
   
   
       16 . A flexible polymeric container for storing and dispensing liquids comprising: 
 a first sidewall and a second sidewall connected together to define a fluid chamber therebetween, the first sidewall and the second sidewall each having an inner surface facing the fluid chamber and an opposed outer surface;    a fitment attached to one of the first sidewall or the second sidewall, the fitment having an opening therethrough having an axis substantially perpendicular to the outer surface; and    a plurality of objects formed on the inner surface of one of the first sidewall or the second sidewall during the fabrication of the sidewall, the objects including at least a first set of objects with a first shape and a second set of objects with a second shape different from the first shape and defining a pattern of a plurality of pathways having at least a first pathway and a second pathway intersecting one another, each pathway having a depth of greater than 1 mil but less than 8 mils.    
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 16  wherein the container further includes a separate piece of material secured to the sidewall of the container in an area opposite the opening of the fitment.  
   
   
       18 . The container of  claim 17  wherein the separate piece of material is heat-sealed to the sidewall of the container.