Multi-compartment flexible package

Abstract

A flexible package having a main package compartment and a segregated internal compartment package. The main package generally includes a plurality of outer panel portions. These panel portions can include a front panel portion, a back panel portion, and a bottom panel portion. The formation of these panels into the main package defines an internal cavity for holding material contents. The main package includes the segregated internal compartment package, wherein the compartment package can include at least one internal panel portion having a transverse edge portion adapted joined to an inner surface of one of the main package panels, i.e. the front or back panels, within the internal cavity, and a longitudinal seal intermediate the edges to define a pair of compartment cavities distinct from the internal cavity of the main package. The compartment cavities may be notched at a common corner and adapted to enable selective tearing transverse to the longitudinal seal for access to both the inner cavity and the second compartment cavity.

1 . A multi-compartment flexible package, comprising: 
 a main package having at least 
 a first panel including an inner first panel surface, an outer first panel surface, a plurality of first panel edge portions, a top portion, and a bottom portion;  
 a second panel including an inner second panel surface, an outer second panel surface, and a plurality of second panel edge portions joined to the plurality of first panel edge portions to define an inner cavity of the main package, wherein the inner second panel surface and the inner first panel surface are within the inner cavity;  
 at least one gusseted panel; and  
   an internal compartment panel including two longitudinal edge portions, and a transverse edge portion transverse to the two longitudinal edge portions, wherein the two longitudinal edge portions are joined to the inner surface of the first panel within the inner cavity and the transverse edge portion is joined to the inner surface of the first panel intermediate the top portion and the bottom portion of the first panel to define a second compartment cavity distinct from the inner cavity of the main packages    wherein the first panel further includes a longitudinal seal intermediate the edge portions of the first panel and substantially traversing from the transverse edge portion to the top portion of the first panel to longitudinally seal the internal compartment panel to the first panel to define the second compartment cavity.    
   
   
       2 . The multi-compartment flexible package of  claim 1 , wherein at least one barrier is disposed between the longitudinal seal and the second panel to prevent joining of the internal compartment panel to the inner second panel surface.  
   
   
       3 . The multi-compartment flexible package of  claim 1 , wherein a top portion of the internal compartment panel distal the transverse edge portion is joined to the inner surface of the second panel creating a first top seal.  
   
   
       4 . The multi-compartment flexible package of  claim 3 , wherein the first top seal is a temporary seal providing selective disengagement of the top portion of the internal compartment panel from the second panel.  
   
   
       5 . The multi-compartment flexible package of  claim 4 , wherein another top portion of the internal compartment panel distal the transverse edge portion is joined to the inner surface of the first panel creating a second top seal.  
   
   
       6 . The multi-compartment flexible package of  claim 5 , wherein the second top seal is a temporary seal providing selective disengagement of the top portion of the internal compartment panel from the first panel.  
   
   
       7 . A multi-compartment flexible package, comprising: 
 a main package having at least 
 a front panel including an inner front panel surface, an outer front panel surface, a plurality of front panel edge portions, and a top and bottom front portion;  
 a back panel including an inner back panel surface, an outer back panel surface, a plurality of back panel edge portions, and a top and bottom back portion, wherein the back panel is joined to the plurality of front panel edge portions to define an inner cavity of the main package, wherein the inner back panel surface and the inner front panel surface are within the inner cavity; and  
   an internal compartment panel including two longitudinal edge portions, and a transverse edge portion transverse to the two longitudinal edge portions, wherein the two longitudinal edge portions are joined to the inner surface of the back panel within the inner cavity and the transverse edge portion is joined to the same inner surface of the back panel intermediate the top and bottom portion of the back panel to define a second compartment cavity distinct from the inner cavity of the main packages    wherein the back panel further includes a longitudinal seal intermediate the edge portions of the back panel and substantially traversing the longitudinal length of the back panel portion from the transverse edge portion to longitudinally seal the internal compartment panel to the back panel to define the second compartment cavity.    
   
   
       8 . The multi-compartment flexible package of  claim 7 , wherein at least one barrier is disposed between the longitudinal seal and the front panel to prevent joining of the internal compartment panel to the inner surface of the front panel.  
   
   
       9 . The multi-compartment flexible package of  claim 7 , further including a notch extending a distance into at least a portion of the longitudinal seal proximate the top portion of the back panel and adapted to enable selective tearing transverse to the longitudinal seal for access into both the inner cavity and the second compartment cavity.