Pouch having separate compartments

Abstract

A food package (100) includes a lay-flat pouch (11) and a fastening member (136). The lay-flat pouch has a first compartment (112) and a second compartment (114) defined by a first side seal (120) and an intermediate seal (116) extending from the first side seal. The pouch includes a fold seam (132) extending along the intermediate seal. The pouch is arranged in a folded configuration with the first compartment disposed adjacent to the second compartment and a first portion of the first side seal and a second portion of the first side seal cooperate to define a base of the pouch. The fastening member attaches the first compartment to the second compartment.

1 . A food package comprising:
 a lay-flat pouch having a first compartment and a second compartment defined by a first side seal and an intermediate seal extending from the first side seal, the pouch including a fold seam extending along the intermediate seal, whereby the pouch is arranged in a folded configuration with the first compartment disposed adjacent to the second compartment and a first portion of the first side seal and a second portion of the first side seal cooperate to define a base of the pouch; and   a fastening member attaching the first compartment to the second compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The food package of  claim 1 , wherein the food package is configured to stand upright on the base upon a horizontal surface in a vertical orientation relative to the horizontal surface. 
     
     
         3 . The food package of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the first side seal and the second portion of the first side seal at least partially overlap to define the base. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The food package of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the first side seal comprises a first width and the second portion of the first side seal comprises a second width different from the first width. 
     
     
         6 . The food package of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate seal is angled at an oblique angle relative to the first side seal. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The food package of  claim 1 , wherein the pouch further comprises a first surface defined by a first barrier layer and a second surface defined by a second barrier layer on an opposite side from the first surface, wherein a first portion of the first surface at the first compartment faces a second portion of the first surface of the pouch at the second compartment, and
 wherein the fastening member is attached to the second surface of the pouch at the first compartment and to the first surface of the pouch at the second compartment to secure the pouch in the folded configuration.   
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The food package of  claim 8 , wherein the fastening member comprises one of an adhesive label or a paperboard wrap. 
     
     
         11 . A food package comprising:
 a pouch having a first barrier sheet and a second barrier sheet joined together along an intermediate seal to define a first compartment and a second compartment, the pouch including a fold seam extending along the intermediate seal, whereby the first compartment defines a first portion of a base of the pouch and the second compartment defines a second portion of the base of the pouch; and   a fastening member attaching the first compartment to the second compartment.   
     
     
         12 . The food package of  claim 11 , wherein the food package is configured to stand upright on the base upon a horizontal surface in a vertical orientation relative to the horizontal surface. 
     
     
         13 . The food package of  claim 11 , further comprising a first side seal including a first portion extending along the first compartment and a second portion extending along the second compartment, wherein the first portion of the first side seal and the second portion of the first side seal at least partially overlap to define the base. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The food package of  claim 13 , wherein an edge of the first portion of the first side seal is offset from an edge of the second portion of the first side seal. 
     
     
         16 . The food package of  claim 13 , wherein the first portion of the first side seal comprises a first width and the second portion of the first side seal comprises a second width different from the first width. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The food package of  claim 11 , wherein the fold seam extends at an oblique angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the intermediate seal. 
     
     
         19 . The food package of  claim 11 , wherein the pouch further comprises a first surface defined by the first barrier sheet and a second surface defined by the second barrier sheet on an opposite side from the first surface, wherein a first portion of the first surface at the first compartment faces a second portion of the first surface of the pouch at the second compartment, and
 wherein the fastening member is attached to the second surface of the pouch at the first compartment and to the first surface of the pouch at the second compartment to attach the first compartment to the second compartment.   
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The food package of  claim 19 , wherein the fastening member comprises one of an adhesive label or a paperboard wrap. 
     
     
         22 . A method for loading product into a multi-compartment food package, the method comprising:
 providing a pouch having a first compartment and a second compartment separated from the first compartment by an intermediate seal;   loading a first product into the first compartment;   after loading the first product into the first compartment, sealing the first compartment and performing a retort process on the first product in the first compartment;   after performing the retort process on the first product, loading a second product into the second compartment; and   with the first product in the sealed first compartment and the second product in the second compartment, sealing the second compartment.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein while performing the retort process on the first product in the first compartment, the second compartment is sealed. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the second compartment is sealed via a resealable opening. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising unsealing the second compartment after performing the retort process and before loading the second product into the second compartment. 
     
     
         27 - 37 . (canceled)