Flexible film container and method for making same

Abstract

A flexible film container ( 100 ) is disclosed. The container includes a top ( 110 ), a base ( 130 ) and a body ( 120 ), the top and base joined to the container body. The container body has at least three discrete sidewalls ( 121 ) and is formed of a continuous web of a flexible film The flexible film container is self-supporting.

1 . A flexible film container comprising:
 a container top;   a container base;   a container body connecting the container top to the container base, the container body having at least three discrete sidewalls and formed of a continuous length of a flexible film, the container top and container base being attached to the container body in a manner to render the flexible film container self-supporting.   
     
     
         2 . The flexible film container of  claim 1 , wherein the container top includes a resealable lid attached thereto. 
     
     
         3 . The flexible film container of  claim 1 , wherein the container body includes a pleat formed in the sidewall. 
     
     
         4 . The flexible film container of  claim 3 , wherein the pleat is formed in the sidewall adjacent a corner of the container body. 
     
     
         5 . The flexible film container of  claim 1 , wherein the container body includes a pleat formed in a corner of the container body. 
     
     
         6 . The flexible film container of  claim 1 , wherein the container body tapers from the container top to the container base or from the container base to the container top. 
     
     
         7 . The flexible film container of  claim 1  wherein the container body has four discrete sidewalls. 
     
     
         8 . The flexible film container of  claim 7 , wherein the flexible film container is a rectangular solid. 
     
     
         9 . The flexible film container of  claim 8 , wherein the flexible film container is cubic. 
     
     
         10 . The flexible film container of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible film container is a prism. 
     
     
         11 . The flexible film container of  claim 1 , wherein the container base has a rim attached to the container body. 
     
     
         12 . The flexible film container of  claim 1 , wherein the container top has a rim attached to the container body. 
     
     
         13 . The flexible film container of  claim 1 , wherein the container top, container base and container body are discrete elements each formed of a flexible film. 
     
     
         14 . The flexible film container of  claim 1 , wherein the container top is formed of a flexible film. 
     
     
         15 . A flexible film container comprising:
 a container top formed of a flexible film material, the container top having a rim and a resealable lid;   a container base formed of a flexible film material, the container base having a rim;   a container body connecting the container top to the container base, an upper portion of the container body sealed to the container top rim and a lower portion of the container body sealed to the container base rim,   wherein the container body has four discrete sidewalls and is formed of a continuous length of a flexible film, wherein the container top and container base are attached to the container body in a manner to render the flexible film container self-supporting.   
     
     
         16 . A process of manufacturing a flexible film container comprising:
 providing a web of flexible film;   forming at least three discrete side walls in the continuous container body;   sealing a first end of the flexible film to an opposing end of the flexible film to create a continuous container body;   attaching a container top to the container body;   attaching a container base to container body; and   filling the container body with container contents.   
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the step of filling the container body is after the step of attaching the container top and before the step of attaching the container base. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 16 , further comprising forming a pleat in the container body prior to the step of sealing the first end of the film to the opposing end. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein the step of forming a pleat comprises forming a pleat in a sidewall of the container body adjacent a corner of the container body. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the step of attaching a container top includes sealing a container top rim to the container body. 
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the step of attaching a container base includes sealing a container base rim to the container body.