Hold-Open Mechanism Usable With a Flexible-Walled Pouch

Abstract

A pouch having a flexible wall panel at least partially defining a mouth into an interior includes a hold-open mechanism for the mouth. A locking mechanism automatically locks the hold-open mechanism in an open position.

1 . A pouch, comprising:
 a flexible first wall panel and a flexible second wall panel that define an openable mouth therebetween;   a first stiffener member associated with the first wall panel disposed along the mouth, and a second stiffener member associated with the second wall panel disposed along the mouth, wherein the stiffener members have an open position that spaces at least a portion of the first wall panel from the second wall panel along the mouth and a closed position that closes the mouth;   a first tab rigidly connected with the first stiffener member proximate an end of the first resilient member, and a second tab rigidly connected with the second stiffener member proximate an end thereof in opposing relation to the first tab; and   a locking mechanism associated with at least one of the first and second tabs;   wherein the first tab is spaced from the second tab to define a space therebetween in an actuation area spaced from the first resilient member in the closed position, wherein the first tab and the second tab move together in the actuation area when the stiffener members move toward the open position, and wherein the locking mechanism releasably secures the first tab and the second tab in the open position.   
     
     
         2 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the first tab automatically interlocks with the second tab in the actuation area. 
     
     
         3 . The pouch of  claim 2 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a snap-type lock. 
     
     
         4 . The pouch of  claim 3 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a hook disposed on the first tab that resiliently interlocks with a portion of the second tab. 
     
     
         5 . The pouch of  claim 4 , wherein the hook includes a generally horizontal portion and a generally vertical portion disposed near an end of the first tab opposite the first stiffener. 
     
     
         6 . The pouch of  claim 5 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a groove on the second tab that is complementary to and receives the hook. 
     
     
         7 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second tabs protrude beyond a side edge of the pouch. 
     
     
         8 . The pouch of  claim 7 , wherein each stiffener member is resilient and extends between a first end at the first side edge and a second end at an opposite side edge of the pouch. 
     
     
         9 . The pouch of  claim 8 , further comprising a third tab rigidly connected with the first stiffener member at the second end thereof and a fourth tab rigidly connected with the second stiffener member at the second end thereof opposite the third tab, wherein the third tab is spaced from the fourth tab to define a space therebetween in a second actuation area spaced from the ends of the resilient members in the closed position, and wherein movement of the third tab and the fourth tab together in the second actuation area urges the stiffener members toward the open position. 
     
     
         10 . The pouch of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the third and fourth tabs includes a locking mechanism, and wherein the third tab releasably interlocks with the fourth tab in the open position. 
     
     
         11 . The pouch of  claim 1  further comprising a resealable fastener mechanism comprising a first elongate closure profile extending along the first wall panel across the mouth that resealably interlocks with a second elongate closure profile disposed on the second wall panel opposite the first elongate closure profile. 
     
     
         12 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the pouch walls define a gusset in a region opposite the mouth. 
     
     
         13 . A pouch comprising:
 an openable mouth defined by at least one flexible pouch wall;   means for stiffening the flexible pouch wall proximate the mouth; and   means for automatically snap-lockably maintaining the means for stiffening in a position that maintains the mouth in an open position.   
     
     
         14 . The flexible pouch of  claim 13 , wherein the means for stiffening comprises a first resilient strip disposed on a first pouch wall on one side of the mouth and a second resilient strip disposed on a second pouch wall on an opposite side of the mouth, and wherein each resilient strip extends substantially between a first edge of the mouth and a second edge of the mouth. 
     
     
         15 . The flexible pouch of  claim 14 , wherein the first edge of the mouth coincides generally with a first edge of the pouch and the second edge of the mouth coincides generally with the second edge of the mouth. 
     
     
         16 . The pouch of  claim 13 , wherein the means for automatically snap-lockably maintaining the means for stiffening comprises a first tab spaced from a second tab and a resilient latch defined by at least one of the tabs, wherein each tab is rigidly attached to the means for stiffening, and wherein the resilient latch maintains the first and second tabs together and maintains the mouth in an open position. 
     
     
         17 . A hold-open mechanism for a mouth of a flexible pouch having a locked-open position and a closed position comprising:
 a first resilient strip disposed opposite a second resilient strip, wherein the resilient strips extend between a first end and a second end and wherein the first resilient strip is hingedly connected with the second resilient strip at the second end;   a first tab rigidly projecting from the first resilient strip proximate the first end;   a second tab rigidly projecting from the second resilient strip opposite the first tab; and   a snap-type locking mechanism associated with at least one of the first tab and the second tab;   wherein, in the closed position, the first resilient strip is substantially parallel with the second resilient strip and the first tab is at least partly spaced from the second tab; and   wherein, in the locked-open position, the first resilient strip diverges away from the second resilient strip at a medial point between the first end and the second end and the first tab is releasably locked with the second tab by the snap-type locking mechanism.   
     
     
         18 . The hold-open mechanism of  claim 17 , wherein the first resilient strip is hingedly connected with the second resilient strip at the first end. 
     
     
         19 . The hold-open mechanism of  claim 17  further comprising a fulcrum region defined at the first end between the tabs and the resilient strips, wherein the resilient strips and the tabs pivot at the fulcrum region. 
     
     
         20 . The hold-open mechanism of  claim 17 , wherein the snap-type locking mechanism comprises a resilient hook disposed on a distal end of the first tab that resiliently clasps a receiving section of the second tab.