Systems and methods of affixing multiple pouches to create a bellows device

Abstract

A bellows device can contain fluid product, such as gasses or liquids. The device can include a series or plurality of pouches attached or otherwise operatively affixed in a manner that provides fluid communication between the pouches to facilitate expansion and contraction, much like an accordion. One or more of the pouches can include one or more apertures or holes defined in one or more portions of a panel portion. One or more affixation patches can be included to provide the structure for attaching the pouches in a serial manner to define the bellows device to facilitate fluid communication between the pouches. One or more apertures or holes are defined in the patch for alignment with the aperture of a first pouch, and an aperture of an adjacent second pouch, to facilitate fluid communication between adjacent pouches.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bellows device, comprising:
 a first pouch including at least one first aperture and a first internal volume;   a second pouch including at least one second aperture and a second internal volume; and   at least one affixation patch including at least one patch aperture and operatively coupled with the first pouch at an affixation region to align the at least one first aperture and the at least one second aperture to operatively join the first pouch and the second pouch to provide operative fluid communication between the first internal volume of the first pouch and the second internal volume of the second pouch.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one affixation patch is constructed of a flexible material. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one affixation patch includes two or more apertures. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one affixation patch is operatively coupled with the first pouch via heat sealing. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a third pouch including at least one third aperture and a third internal volume. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , further comprising a second affixation patch including at least one second patch aperture and operatively coupled with the second pouch. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein operative fluid communication is provided between the first internal volume of the first pouch and the third internal volume of the third pouch. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 5 , further comprising a fourth pouch including at least one fourth aperture and a fourth internal volume. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the second affixation patch includes two or more apertures. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the second affixation patch is operatively coupled with the second pouch via heat sealing. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one affixation patch includes at least a first surface and a second surface, with the first surface constructed of a heat sealable material and the second surface constructed of a material having oxygen barrier properties. 
     
     
         12 . A bellows device having a series of operatively connected flexible pouches, comprising:
 a first flexible pouch including at least one first aperture and a first internal volume;   a second flexible pouch including at least one second aperture and a second internal volume;   a third flexible pouch including at least one third aperture and a third internal volume;   a first affixation patch including one or more first apertures and operatively coupled with the first flexible pouch to align the at least one first aperture and the at least one second aperture; and   a second affixation patch including at least one second aperture and operatively coupled with the second flexible pouch to provide operative fluid communication between the first internal volume of the first flexible pouch and the third internal volume of the third flexible pouch.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first affixation patch or the second affixation patch is constructed of a flexible material. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first affixation patch and the second affixation patch includes two or more apertures. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first affixation patch and the second affixation patch includes a first surface constructed of a heat sealable material and a second surface constructed of a material having oxygen barrier properties. 
     
     
         16 . A bellows device having a series of operatively connected flexible pouches, comprising:
 a first flexible pouch including at least one first aperture and a first internal volume;   a second flexible pouch including at least one second aperture and a second internal volume;   a third flexible pouch including at least one third aperture and a third internal volume;   a first affixation patch including one or more first apertures and operatively heat sealed with the first flexible pouch to align the at least one first aperture and the at least one second aperture;   a second affixation patch including at least one second aperture and operatively heat sealed with the second flexible pouch to provide operative fluid communication between the first internal volume of the first flexible pouch and the second internal volume of the second flexible pouch; and   a third affixation patch including at least one third aperture and operatively heat sealed with the second flexible pouch to provide operative fluid communication between the second internal volume of the second flexible pouch and the third internal volume of the third flexible pouch.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first, second, and third affixation patches includes a first surface constructed of a heat sealable material and a second surface constructed of a material having oxygen barrier properties. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first, second, and third affixation patches include two or more apertures. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one of the first, second, and third affixation patches is constructed of a flexible material. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first, second, and third flexible pouches include a fitment device.