Flexible package with a transverse access panel device

Abstract

A flexible package generally including a front panel portion, a back panel portion, a first side panel portion, and at least one access device. The flexible package can further include a second side panel portion, a bottom panel portion, and a top panel portion. Additionally, one or more of the portions can be shaped and/or manufactured substantially as a gusset. Each of the panel portions comprise two longitudinal sides or edges. The access device can be attached to at least one surface of at least one of the side panel portions such that the device is in transverse orientation to the longitudinal sides. The device can be manually attached to the side portions, or attached with existing and/or specially designed manufacturing machinery. Attachment of the access device to a side portion of the package is achieved using heat bonding techniques, adhesives, and the like.

1 . A flexible package comprising: 
 a plurality of flexible panel portions forming an inner cavity capable of holding material contents, the plurality of flexible panel portions including: 
 a front panel portion having an exterior surface and an interior surface;  
 a back panel portion having an exterior surface and an interior surface;  
 at least one side panel portion having generally longitudinal sides; and  
 a re-closeable access device including a first device portion operably disposed across the at least one side panel portion generally transverse to the longitudinal sides, a second device portion operably disposed along the interior surface of the front panel portion, and a third device portion operably disposed along the interior surface of the back panel portion to provide access into the inner cavity by way of the re-closeable access device.  
   
     
     
         2 . The flexible package of  claim 1 , wherein the re-closeable access device is a re-closeable zipper device.  
     
     
         3 . The flexible package of  claim 2 , wherein the second device portion is a zipper flange portion operably disposed along the interior surface of the front panel portion and the third device portion is a zipper flange portion operably disposed along the interior surface of the back panel portion.  
     
     
         4 . The flexible package of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one side panel portion includes at least one tear notch extending some distance into the at least one side panel portion and proximate the re-closeable access device to permit a user to tear away a portion of the at least one side panel portion to expose the at least one re-closeable device.  
     
     
         5 . The flexible package of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flexible panel portions are constructed at least in part of a flexible polymeric film material.  
     
     
         6 . The flexible package of  claim 1 , including a main webbing, wherein the main webbing forms at least the front panel portion, the back panel portion, and the at least one side panel portion.  
     
     
         7 . The flexible package of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of flexible panel portions are formed from distinct webbings.  
     
     
         8 . The flexible package of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the front panel portion, the back panel portion, and the at least one side panel portion is gusseted.  
     
     
         9 . The flexible package of  claim 1 , further including a handle aperture defined in the flexible package.  
     
     
         10 . The flexible package of  claim 1 , wherein the front panel portion or the back panel portion is gusseted.  
     
     
         11 . A flexible package formed by a plurality of flexible panel portions forming an inner cavity capable of holding material contents, comprising: 
 a front panel portion having an exterior surface, an interior surface and a front panel top edge;    a back panel portion having an exterior surface, an interior surface and a back panel top edge, the front and back panel top edges operably connected to define a top edge seal;    a longitudinal gusset defined in at least one of the front or back panel portions;    a side panel portion having generally longitudinal sides; and    a re-closeable access device operably connected to the side panel portion and adapted to provide selective access to the inner cavity.    
     
     
         12 . The flexible package of  claim 11 , wherein the re-closeable access device is a re-closeable zipper device.  
     
     
         13 . The flexible package of  claim 12 , wherein the re-closeable zipper device further includes a front zipper flange portion operably connected along the interior surface of the front panel portion, and a back zipper flange portion operably connected along the interior surface of the back panel portion for operable attachment of the re-closeable zipper device to the flexible package.  
     
     
         14 . The flexible package of  claim 11 , wherein the side panel portion includes at least one tear notch extending some distance into the side panel portion and proximate the re-closeable access device to permit a user to tear away a portion of the side panel portion to expose the re-closeable access device.  
     
     
         15 . The flexible package of  claim 11 , wherein the top edge seal is operably connected to a top edge of the side panel proximate a midpoint between the generally longitudinal sides of the side panel portion.  
     
     
         16 . The flexible package of  claim 15 , including a break in the top edge seal proximate the side panel portion.  
     
     
         17 . A flexible package formed by a plurality of flexible panel portions forming an inner cavity capable of holding material contents, comprising: 
 a front panel portion having an exterior surface and an interior surface;    a back panel portion having an exterior surface and an interior surface;    at least one side panel portion having generally longitudinal sides; and    a re-closeable access device including a first device portion operably disposed across the at least one side panel portion, and a second device portion operably disposed along the interior surface of at least one of the front panel portion or the back panel portion to provide access into the inner cavity by way of the re-closeable access device.    
     
     
         18 . The flexible package of  claim 17 , wherein the front panel portion, the back panel portion and the at least one side panel portion are formed of a single main webbing.  
     
     
         19 . The flexible package of  claim 17 , wherein the front panel portion, the back panel portion and the at least one side panel portion are formed from distinct webbings.  
     
     
         20 . The flexible package of  claim 17 , wherein the re-closeable access device is a re-closeable zipper device.  
     
     
         21 . The flexible package of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the front and back panel portions is gusseted at a longitudinal gusset line.  
     
     
         22 . The flexible package of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of flexible panel portions are constructed at least in part of a flexible polymeric film material.