Squeeze-Out Pouch

Abstract

A spouted pouch has a pouch and a spout and holds a viscous product, formed from a flexible pouch material. The spouted pouch includes a first and second end, with a gusset being disposed at the second end of the pouch. The spout is disposed at the first end of the pouch and has a sealboat that extends into the pouch according to a length of the sealboat and forming a seal that seals the viscous product within the spouted pouch. A stability of the spouted pouch is a function of the length of the sealboat extension into the pouch, a depth of the gusset, dimensions of the sealboat, and a width of the pouch, such that the spouted pouch is stable both standing in a downside-up orientation in which the gusset contacts a support surface and standing in an upside-down orientation in which the sealboat contacts the support surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A spouted pouch, comprising:
 a pouch to hold a viscous product and formed from a flexible pouch material, the pouch including a first end and a second end, with a gusset being disposed at the second end of the pouch; and   a spout, disposed at the first end of the pouch, comprising a sealboat that extends into the pouch according to a length of the sealboat and forming a seal that seals the viscous product within the spouted pouch;   wherein a stability of the spouted pouch is a function of the length of the sealboat extension into the pouch, a depth of the gusset, dimensions of the sealboat, and a width of the pouch, such that the spouted pouch is stable both standing in a downside-up orientation in which the gusset contacts a support surface and standing in an upside-down orientation in which the sealboat is proximate to the support surface.   
     
     
         2 . The spouted pouch according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealboat dimensions include both a width and a depth. 
     
     
         3 . The spouted pouch according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealboat includes threads on an outer portion thereof that thread onto matching threads on inner portion of a screw-on cap, the screw-on cap threads onto the sealboat threads to form the seal. 
     
     
         4 . The spouted pouch according to  claim 1 , wherein the width of the pouch tapers from the second end of the pouch to the first end of the pouch. 
     
     
         5 . The spouted pouch according to  claim 1 , wherein the width of the pouch is substantially constant from the first end of the pouch to the second end of the pouch. 
     
     
         6 . The spouted pouch according to  claim 1 , wherein the pouch lacks creases. 
     
     
         7 . The spouted pouch according to  claim 1 , wherein the spouted pouch further includes a flip-top that opens and closes to dispense the viscous product from the spouted pouch and to seal the viscous product within the spouted pouch, respectively. 
     
     
         8 . The spouted pouch according to  claim 1 , wherein the spouted pouch further includes a non-drip dispensing valve disposed within a cap that couples to the sealboat, the non-drip dispensing valve controlling flow of the viscous product when the viscous product is being dispensed from the spouted pouch and preventing the viscous product from escaping the spouted pouch when the viscous product is not being dispensed from the spouted pouch. 
     
     
         9 . The spouted pouch according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible pouch material allows the viscous product to be dispense from the spouted pouch without letting air back into the spouted pouch. 
     
     
         10 . The spouted pouch according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealboat is one of rounded, squared, rectangular, pentagonal, and octagonal. 
     
     
         11 . The spouted pouch according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealboat includes a seal bead that circumscribes an outer portion thereof and that snaps into a seal bead notch that circumscribes an inner portion of a cap to form the seal. 
     
     
         12 . The spouted pouch according to  claim 1 , wherein the viscous product is one of a condiment and a sauce. 
     
     
         13 . The spouted pouch according to  claim 1 , wherein the pouch comprises a first rib formed along a first side of the pouch and a second rib formed along a second side of the pouch, the first and second ribs extending from the gusset to the spout. 
     
     
         14 . The spouted pouch according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible pouch material is comprised of at least one of metal foil, polypropylene, and polyester. 
     
     
         15 . The spouted pouch according to  claim 1 , wherein the stability of the spouted pouch is further a function of a thickness of the flexible pouch material.