Pouch multipackage

Abstract

A package for unitizing at least two pouches includes a flexible multipack header positioned between the pouches and adhered along a top portion of the pouches. Attachment areas for the pouches may be positioned along an outer surface of the multipack header, an inner surface of the multipack header, folding tabs and/or panels of the multipack header and/or along two sides of a triangular cross-section formed by the multipack header.

1 . A unitized package comprising: 
 at least two pouches arranged in an array, each pouch comprising two flexible sides terminating at a seal across a top portion, the seal formed between inner walls of the two sides;    a multipack header connecting the at least two pouches and adhered along the top portion of the at least two pouches.    
   
   
       2 . The unitized package of  claim 1  wherein the at least two pouches are connected to the multipack header along a planar attachment area of the multipack header.  
   
   
       3 . The unitized package of  claim 1  wherein the multipack header further comprises: 
 a gripping aperture positioned along a top portion of the multipack header;    a seal positioned below the gripping aperture; and    two planar attachment areas extending from the seal in different planes from the top portion of the multipack header, wherein each planar attachment area is attached to at least one pouch.    
   
   
       4 . The unitized package of  claim 1  wherein the multipack header comprises: 
 a gripping aperture positioned along a top portion of the multipack header; and    a spacer positioned along a bottom portion of the multipack header, the spacer creating separation between the at least two pouches.    
   
   
       5 . The unitized package of  claim 1  wherein the multipack header comprises a folded triangular cross-section wherein at least one pouch is positioned along two sides of the folded triangular cross-section.  
   
   
       6 . The unitized package of  claim 5  wherein the multipack header further comprises: 
 one or more connection apertures positioned in the multipack header; and    one or more connection tabs positioned in the multipack header, the connection tabs mateable with the connection apertures.    
   
   
       7 . The unitized package of  claim 5  further comprising: 
 a gripping aperture positioned along one side of the multipack header; and    one or more connection tabs positioned along an opposite side of the multipack header, the connection tabs for forming the folded triangular cross-section.    
   
   
       8 . The unitized package of  claim 1  wherein the at least two pouches are heat sealed to the multipack header.  
   
   
       9 . The unitized package of  claim 1  wherein the at least two pouches are glued to the multipack header.  
   
   
       10 . The unitized package of  claim 1  wherein the multipack header further comprises: 
 a gripping aperture positioned along a top portion of the multipack header;    one or more slits forming two or more folding tabs, the folding tabs extendable in separate planes from the top portion of the multipack header.    
   
   
       11 . The unitized package of  claim 1  wherein the multipack header further comprises: 
 one or more gripping apertures positioned within the multipack header;    one or more folding panels positioned within the multipack header, the one or more folding panels forming an attachment area for each pouch.    
   
   
       12 . The unitized package of  claim 11  wherein the one or more folding panels are three sided and formed from within a central portion of the multipack header.  
   
   
       13 . The unitized package of  claim 12  wherein an additional attachment area for an additional pouch is formed along a periphery of the multipack header.  
   
   
       14 . A unitized package comprising: 
 a flexible multipack header having a top portion and at least two attachment areas each extending in separate planes from the top portion; and    at least one pouch having two generally parallel sides extending toward an upper end adhered to each attachment area.    
   
   
       15 . The unitized package of  claim 14  wherein each attachment area is positioned along an outside of the unitized package.  
   
   
       16 . The unitized package of  claim 14  wherein each attachment area is positioned along an inside of the unitized package.  
   
   
       17 . The unitized package of  claim 14  wherein a plurality of pouches are adhered to each attachment area.  
   
   
       18 . The unitized package of  claim 14  wherein the at least two attachment areas comprise two sides of a triangular cross-section.  
   
   
       19 . The unitized package of  claim 18  wherein the two attachment areas are mated immediately below a gripping aperture.  
   
   
       20 . The unitized package of  claim 19  further comprising a spacer positioned between the two attachment areas to complete the triangular cross-section.  
   
   
       21 . The unitized package of  claim 14  wherein the pouches are attached at different elevations relative to the top portion of the flexible multipack header.  
   
   
       22 . The unitized package of  claim 14  wherein the flexible multipack header includes a plurality of folding tabs extending along a bottom of the flexible multipack header, each folding tab of the plurality of folding tabs including at least one attachment area and extending in a different plane relative to the top portion of the flexible multipack header.  
   
   
       23 . The unitized package of  claim 14  wherein the at least two attachment areas are formed on one or more folding panels positioned within an interior of the flexible multipack header.  
   
   
       24 . A unitized package comprising: 
 two or more pouches, each pouch including two generally parallel sides sealed along each side and along a top; and    a multipack header positioned between the two or more pouches and adhered to the top of each pouch so that each pouch is separately removable from the multipack header.    
   
   
       25 . The unitized package of  claim 24  wherein the arrangement of the two or more pouches and the multipack header results in a self-supporting package.  
   
   
       26 . The unitized package of  claim 24  wherein each pouch is positioned along an attachment area extending in a different plane from a top portion of the multipack header.  
   
   
       27 . The unitized package of  claim 24  wherein the multipack header comprises a triangular cross-section.  
   
   
       28 . The unitized package of  claim 24  wherein the multipack header comprises two or more folding tabs that form one or more attachment areas for attaching the top of each pouch.