Flexible package and method of forming a cuff

Abstract

A package having a foldable top region is provided. The package generally includes panel portions that at least partially define an interior cavity therebetween and accessible through an access opening. The top portion can provide a cuff member or cuff region that can be folded and unfolded to facilitate use of the package as a bowl or other cuffed container for material contents. The package can be adapted to hold its shape as a bowl or cuffed container.

1 . A method of providing a flexible package as a bowl-like container, comprising:
 providing a flexible package having at least first and second panels defining an inner cavity, the first and second panels each having respective interior surfaces, with a first cuff region defined along a portion of the interior surface of the first panel proximate a first edge portion and a second cuff region defined along a portion of the interior surface of the second panel proximate a second edge portion, and   manipulating the flexible package proximate the first and second cuff regions to fold the first and second edge portions over such that the first and second cuff regions are positioned on the outside of the package to form a cuff in the flexible package.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first cuff region includes a first cuff member, and the second cuff region includes a second cuff member. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first cuff member is a first zipper device portion and the second cuff member is a second zipper device portion. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the flexible package further includes providing a bottom panel such that at least the first, second and bottom panels define the inner cavity and the flexible package is configured as a stand-up package. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein providing the bottom panel includes providing a gusseted bottom panel. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second panels are each defined by a width dimension and a height dimension, with the width dimensions being greater than the respective height dimensions. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second panels are defined by a width dimension greater than a depth dimension of the bottom panel. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further including manually manipulating the flexible package proximate the first and second cuff regions to fold the first and second edge portions upward such that the first and second cuff regions are returned to within the inner cavity of the flexible package. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further including interlocking the first cuff region with the second cuff region. 
     
     
         10 . A method of providing a flexible package as a cuffed container, comprising:
 providing a flexible package having at least first, second and bottom panels defining an inner cavity, the first and second panels each having respective interior surfaces such that a first cuff member is disposed along a portion of the interior surface of the first panel proximate a first edge portion and a second cuff member is disposed along a portion of the interior surface of the second panel proximate a second edge portion; and   manipulating the flexible package proximate the first and second cuff members to fold the first and second edge portions downward to form a cuff in the flexible package.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the formed cuff provides a rounded edge portion proximate a top region of the flexible package. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second panels are each defined by a width dimension and height dimension, with the width dimensions being greater than the respective height dimensions. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first cuff member is a first zipper device portion and the second cuff member is a second zipper device portion. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first zipper device portion is adapted to selectively interlock with the second zipper device portion to provide selective access into the inner cavity of the flexible package. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further including manually manipulating the flexible package proximate the first and second cuff members to fold the first and second edge portions upward. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further including interlocking the first cuff member with the second cuff member. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein folding the first and second edge portions downward includes folding the first and second edge portions such that the first cuff member and the second cuff member are positioned on the outside of the package to form the cuff in the flexible package. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein folding the first and second edge portions downward includes folding the first and second edge portions such that the first cuff member and the second cuff member are positioned on the inside of the package to form the cuff in the flexible package. 
     
     
         19 . A method of providing a flexible package as a cuffed container, comprising:
 providing a flexible package having at least first and second, with the first and second panels each having respective interior surfaces such that a first access device portion is disposed along a portion of the interior surface of the first panel proximate a first edge portion and a second access device portion is disposed along a portion of the interior surface of the second panel proximate a second edge portion; and   manipulating the flexible package proximate the first and second access device portions to fold the first and second edge portions downward to form a cuff in the flexible package.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the first and second access device portions is a zipper device portion.