Package having a pour spout

Abstract

A package having a closure device to define a pour spout is provided. Various zipper, package and/or closure features, constructs, structures and forming methods are provided to reduce or eliminate the air gap that can be present at or proximate the top seal of “pillow” or like packages.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A package having air gap filling features, comprising:
 a film having a first panel portion, a second panel portion, a first side edge, and a second side edge;   a closure device having first and second end portions and applied to the film transverse to the first and second side edges of the film, the closure device extending from the first panel portion, across the first side edge and to the second panel portion to define a side pour spout; and   a first fill material provided at the first end portion of the closure device and a second fill material provided at the second end portion of the closure device, such that an air gap formed during formation of the package is eliminated.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein at least the first fill material is provided to a flange portion of the closure device. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein at least the second fill material is provided to a flange portion of the closure device. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the first fill material is a cohesive material. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the first fill material is an adhesive material. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the second fill material is a cohesive material. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the second fill material is an adhesive material. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 1 , further including a lap or fin seal. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 1 , further including a top seal portion provided above and proximate the closure device. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 9 , further including a tear portion provided at the top seal portion to enable removal of a portion of the top seal portion to expose the side pour spout. 
     
     
         11 . A package having air gap filling features, comprising:
 a film having a first panel portion, a second panel portion, a top seal portion, a first side edge portion, and a second side edge portion; and   a closure device having first and second end portions each provided in the top seal portion such that the closure device angles downward and extends from the first panel portion, across the first side edge portion and to the second panel portion to define a side pour spout.   
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 11 , wherein the closure device includes top and bottom flanges. 
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 12 , wherein a portion of the top flange is provided in the top seal portion of the package. 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 11 , further including at least a first side gusset portion. 
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 14 , further including first and second side gusset portions. 
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 11 , further including an side extending lip portion. 
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 16 , wherein the side extending lip portion angles upward away from the closure device. 
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 11 , wherein the closure device includes a slit portion intermediate the first and second end portions of the closure device. 
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 11 , wherein the closure device includes a notch portion intermediate the first and second end portions of the closure device. 
     
     
         20 . The package of  claim 19 , wherein the notch portion is generally wedge-shaped.