Flexible flavor gradient container and packaged liquid-based food item

Abstract

A flexible package for a liquid-based food item and a packaged liquid-based food item, such as a soup. A flexible package or pouch includes an outer member or pouch and an inner dividing member or pouch that is disposed or positioned inside the outer member to define inner and outer cavities. A liquid, such as water or broth, and one or more seasonings are placed in the inner cavity. Particulates, such as meat and vegetable particulates and, if necessary, water, are placed in the outer cavity. Seasonings are separated from particulates, and the seasoning does not diffuse into the particulates. Thus, the tastes of the individual ingredients are maintained. A sealing member extends across a tops of the inner and outer members to close the package. When the sealing member is removed to open the package, the water or broth with the seasoning, and the particulates and any water can be poured from their respective cavities in a single motion. By reducing or eliminating diffusion of seasonings into particulates, reduced quantities of salt and other seasonings can be added to processed soup products and allows salt and other seasonings to be added just prior to cooking, providing more natural flavor. Separating broth and particulates within a container can also reduce sterilization times.

1 . A segmented pouch for a liquid-based food item, comprising: 
 a flexible outer pouch;    a flexible inner pouch disposed within the flexible outer pouch, wherein an inner surface of the flexible inner pouch at least partially defines an inner cavity, and an outer surface of the flexible inner pouch and an inner surface of the flexible outer pouch define an outer cavity; and    a seal that extends across tops of the flexible inner and outer pouches and closes the inner and outer cavities,    whereby the inner cavity can be filled with a liquid and a seasoning and the outer cavity can be filled with particulates so that the seasoning and the particulates are separated from each other, and when the seal is removed or broken to open the segmented pouch, the liquid, the seasoning, and the particulates are pourable from their respective inner and outer cavities in a single motion.    
   
   
       2 . The segmented pouch of  claim 1 , wherein a height of the outer pouch is greater than a height of the inner pouch.  
   
   
       3 . The segmented pouch of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the outer pouch is the same as a width of the inner pouch.  
   
   
       4 . The segmented pouch of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the outer pouch is greater than a width of the inner pouch.  
   
   
       5 . The segmented pouch of  claim 1 , wherein a height of the outer cavity is greater than a height of the inner cavity.  
   
   
       6 . The segmented pouch of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the outer cavity is the same as a width of the inner cavity.  
   
   
       7 . The segmented pouch of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the outer cavity is greater than a width of the inner cavity.  
   
   
       8 . The segmented pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the outer cavity substantially envelopes the inner cavity.  
   
   
       9 . The segmented pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the inner and outer pouches are plastic.  
   
   
       10 . The segmented pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the outer pouch is transparent or translucent.  
   
   
       11 . The segmented pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the inner pouch is transparent or translucent.  
   
   
       12 . The segmented pouch of  claim 1 , further comprising lateral support members that extend between outer sides of the inner pouch and inner sides of the outer pouch.  
   
   
       13 . The segmented pouch of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom of the outer pouch is gusseted.  
   
   
       14 . The segmented pouch of  claim 13 , wherein the gusseted bottom enables the segmented pouch to stand upright.  
   
   
       15 . The segmented pouch of  claim 13 , wherein the outer cavity extends into areas defined by the gusseted bottom.  
   
   
       17 . The segmented pouch of  claim 1 , further comprising a tear strip that extends along the seal of the inner and outer pouches, wherein the tear strip can be torn to break the seal and access the outer and inner cavities.  
   
   
       18 . The segmented pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the inner and outer pouches have a rectangular or square shape.  
   
   
       19 . The segmented pouch of  claim 1 , wherein both sides and the tops of the inner and outer pouches are sealed together, and the bottom of the outer pouch is gusseted.  
   
   
       20 . A segmented pouch for a liquid-based food item, comprising: 
 a flexible plastic outer pouch having a gusseted bottom that enables the segmented pouch to stand upright;    a flexible plastic inner pouch disposed within the flexible outer pouch, wherein an inner surface of the flexible plastic inner pouch at least partially defines an inner cavity, and an outer surface of the flexible plastic inner pouch and an inner surface of the flexible plastic outer pouch define an outer cavity; and    a seal that extends across tops of the flexible plastic inner and outer pouches and closes the inner and outer cavities,    whereby the inner cavity can be filled with a seasoning and a liquid and the outer cavity can be filled with particulates so that the seasoning and the particulates are separated from each other, and when the seal is removed or broken to open the segmented pouch, the liquid, the seasoning, and the particulates are pourable from their respective inner and outer cavities in a single motion.    
   
   
       21 . The segmented pouch of  claim 20 , wherein a height of the outer pouch is greater than a height of the inner pouch.  
   
   
       22 . The segmented pouch of  claim 20 , wherein a width of the outer pouch is the same as a width of the inner pouch.  
   
   
       23 . The segmented pouch of  claim 20 , wherein a width of the outer pouch is greater than a width of the inner pouch.  
   
   
       24 . The segmented pouch of  claim 20 , wherein a height of the outer cavity is greater than a height of the inner cavity.  
   
   
       25 . The segmented pouch of  claim 20 , wherein a width of the outer cavity is the same as a width of the inner cavity.  
   
   
       26 . The segmented pouch of  claim 20 , wherein a width of the outer cavity is greater than a width of the inner cavity.  
   
   
       27 . The segmented pouch of  claim 20 , wherein the outer cavity substantially envelopes the inner cavity.  
   
   
       28 . The segmented pouch of  claim 20 , wherein the outer pouch is transparent or translucent.  
   
   
       29 . The segmented pouch of  claim 20 , wherein the inner pouch is transparent or translucent.  
   
   
       30 . The segmented pouch of  claim 20 , further comprising lateral support members that extend between outer sides of the inner pouch and inner sides of the outer pouch.  
   
   
       31 . The segmented pouch of  claim 20 , wherein the outer cavity extends into areas defined by the gusseted bottom.  
   
   
       32 . The segmented pouch of  claim 20 , further comprising a tear strip extending along the seal of the inner and outer pouches, wherein the tear strip can be torn to break the seal and access the outer and inner cavities.  
   
   
       33 . The segmented pouch of  claim 20 , wherein the inner and outer pouches have a rectangular or square shape.  
   
   
       34 . A packaged liquid-based food item, comprising 
 a flexible outer pouch;    a flexible inner pouch disposed within the flexible outer pouch, wherein an inner surface of the flexible inner pouch at least partially defines an inner cavity, and an outer surface of the flexible inner pouch and an inner surface of the flexible outer pouch define an outer cavity;    a seal that extends across tops of the flexible inner and outer pouches and closes the inner and outer cavities;    a liquid;    a seasoning; and    a plurality of particulates, wherein    the inner cavity is filled with the seasoning and the liquid and the outer cavity is filled with the plurality of particulates so that the seasoning and the particulates are separated from each other, and when the seal is removed or broken to open the segmented pouch, the liquid, the seasoning, and the particulates are pourable from their respective inner and outer cavities in a single motion.    
   
   
       35 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 34 , wherein the outer cavity includes the plurality of particulates and water.  
   
   
       36 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 34 , wherein a height of the outer pouch is greater than a height of the inner pouch.  
   
   
       37 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 34 , wherein a width of the outer pouch is the same as a width of the inner pouch.  
   
   
       38 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 34 , wherein a width of the outer pouch is greater than a width of the inner pouch.  
   
   
       39 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 34 , wherein a height of the outer cavity is greater than a height of the inner cavity.  
   
   
       40 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 34 , wherein a width of the outer cavity is the same as a width of the inner cavity.  
   
   
       41 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 34 , wherein a width of the outer cavity is greater than a width of the inner cavity.  
   
   
       42 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 34 , wherein the outer cavity substantially envelopes the inner cavity.  
   
   
       43 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 34 , further comprising lateral support members that extend between outer sides of the inner pouch and inner sides of the outer pouch.  
   
   
       44 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 34 , wherein a bottom of the outer pouch is gusseted and enables the segmented pouch to stand upright.  
   
   
       45 . The package liquid-based food item of  claim 34 , wherein the seasoning, the liquid and the plurality of particulates are ingredients of a soup.  
   
   
       46 . A packaged liquid-based food item, comprising 
 a flexible plastic outer pouch having a gusseted bottom that enables the segmented pouch to stand upright;    a flexible plastic inner pouch disposed within the flexible plastic outer pouch, wherein an inner surface of the flexible plastic inner pouch at least partially defines an inner cavity, and an outer surface of the flexible plastic inner pouch and an inner surface of the flexible plastic outer pouch define an outer cavity;    a seal that extends across tops of the flexible plastic inner and outer pouches and closes the inner and outer cavities;    a liquid;    a seasoning; and    a plurality of particulates, wherein    the inner cavity is filled with the seasoning and the liquid and the outer cavity is filled with the plurality of particulates so that the seasoning and the particulates are separated from each other, and when the seal is removed or broken to open the segmented pouch, the liquid, the seasoning, and the particulates are pourable from their respective inner and outer cavities in a single motion.    
   
   
       47 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 46 , wherein the outer cavity includes the plurality of particulates and water.  
   
   
       48 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 46 , wherein a height of the outer pouch is greater than a height of the inner pouch.  
   
   
       49 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 46 , wherein a width of the outer pouch is the same as a width of the inner pouch.  
   
   
       50 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 46 , wherein a width of the outer pouch is greater than a width of the inner pouch.  
   
   
       51 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 46 , wherein a height of the outer cavity is greater than a height of the inner cavity.  
   
   
       52 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 46 , wherein a width of the outer cavity is the same as a width of the inner cavity.  
   
   
       53 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 46 , wherein a width of the outer cavity is greater than a width of the inner cavity.  
   
   
       54 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 46 , wherein the outer cavity substantially envelopes the inner cavity.  
   
   
       55 . The packaged liquid-based food item of  claim 46 , fuirther comprising lateral support members that extend between outer sides of the inner pouch and inner sides of the outer pouch.  
   
   
       56 . The package liquid-based food item of  claim 34 , wherein the seasoning, the liquid and the plurality of particulates are ingredients of a soup.