Container and method for holding flexible bags container product

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for holding a flexible bag containing product. A container includes a bottom wall, a first side wall having a first height (h) connected to the bottom wall, a second side wall having a second height (H) connected to the bottom wall, opposite the first wall, a third side wall connected to the first side, second side, and bottom walls, a fourth side wall connected to the first side, second side, and bottom walls, opposite the third side wall, a reservoir formed by the first side, second side, third side, fourth side, and bottom walls, and an opening to the reservoir, opposite the bottom wall. The first height (h) is less than the second height (H). A method of instructing a user to hold a flexible bag containing a product includes the steps of procuring the container for holding a flexible bag containing a product and instructing a user to place a flexible bag containing a product into the reservoir of the container such that the flexible bag is in an upright position. A method for storing a flexible bag container a food product includes the steps of procuring the container and placing a flexible bag containing a product into the reservoir of the container such that the flexible bag is positioned upon the bottom wall of the container.

1 . A container for holding a flexible bag containing product, the container comprising:
 a bottom wall;   a first side wall having a first height (h) connected to the bottom wall;   a second side wall having a second height (H) connected to the bottom wall, opposite the first wall;   a third side wall connected to the first side, second side, and bottom walls;   a fourth side wall connected to the first side, second side, and bottom walls, opposite the third side wall;   a reservoir formed by the first side, second side, third side, fourth side, and bottom walls; and   an opening to the reservoir, opposite the bottom wall;   wherein the first height (h) is less than the second height (H).   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible bag containing product disposed within the reservoir in an upright position. 
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible bag container product is a flexible bag container coffee. 
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more feet disposed along the bottom wall. 
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the feet comprise a material selected from the group consisting of rubber, plastics, polymers, elastomers, composites, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom wall further comprises an angular bottom wall that connects the bottom wall to the second side wall. 
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the bottom wall and angular bottom wall comprise one or more feet disposed thereon. 
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the first height to the second height (h:H) is less than  1 . 
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the ratio of the first height to the second height (h:H) is equal to or less than about 2/3. 
   
   
       10 . A container for holding a flexible coffee bag, the container comprising:
 a bottom wall;   a first side wall connected to the bottom wall;   a second side wall connected to the bottom wall, opposite the first side wall;   a third side wall connected to the first side, second side, and bottom walls;   a fourth side wall connected to the first side, second side, and bottom walls, opposite the third side wall;   a reservoir having an opening opposite the bottom wall formed by the bottom, first, second, third and fourth side walls; and   a flexible bag containing coffee disposed within the reservoir in an upright position upon the bottom wall.   
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the first side wall has a first height (h) and the second side wall has a second height (H) such that the first height is less the second height (H). 
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein a ratio of the first height (h) to second height (H) (h:H) is less than 9/10. 
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the container is sized such that it may be positioned upon a countertop. 
   
   
       14 . A method for holding a flexible bag containing product, the method comprising placing a flexible bag containing a product into the reservoir of the container of  claim 1  such that the flexible bag is positioned upon the bottom wall in an upright position. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the flexible bag is positioned within the reservoir such that a front label of the flexible bag is aligned with the first side, thereby visible to an observer from outside the container. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the flexible bag container a product is a flexible bag container coffee. 
   
   
       17 . A method of instructing a user to hold a flexible bag containing a product, the method comprising:
 procuring the container of  claim 1 ; and   instructing a user to place a flexible bag containing a product into the reservoir of the container such that the flexible bag is in an upright position.   
   
   
       18 . A method for storing a flexible bag container a food product, the method comprising:
 procuring a container comprising:
 a bottom wall, 
 a first side wall having a first height (h) connected to the bottom wall, 
 a second side wall having a second height (H) connected to the bottom wall, opposite the first wall, 
 a third side wall connected to the first side, second side, and bottom walls, 
 a fourth side wall connected to the first side, second side, and bottom walls, opposite the third side wall, 
 a reservoir formed by the first side, second side, third side, fourth side, and bottom walls, and 
 an opening to the reservoir, opposite the bottom wall; 
   placing a flexible bag containing a product into the reservoir of the container such that the flexible bag is positioned upon the bottom wall of the container.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising positioning the container holding the flexible bag of product on a countertop. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , orienting the flexible bag within the container such that a front label may be visible from outside the container.