Method of assembling packaged product including filling first compartment with first set of pouches to be consumed in expected duration of time

Abstract

The method including establishing an inner package made from at least one layer of material, the inner package defining a first compartment and at least one second compartment in a first panel and a second panel of the at least one layer of material, respectively, a first interfacing edge of the first panel being connected to a second interfacing edge of the second panel, the first compartment and the at least one second compartment each being recloseable, and filling the first compartment with a first set of pouches that is to be consumed during a first expected duration of time based on an average consumption rate.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of assembling a packaged product, comprising:
 establishing an inner package made from at least one layer of material, the inner package defining a first compartment and at least one second compartment in a first panel and a second panel of the at least one layer of material, respectively, a first interfacing edge of the first panel being connected to a second interfacing edge of the second panel, the first compartment and the at least one second compartment each being recloseable; and   filling the first compartment with a first set of pouches that is to be consumed during a first expected duration of time based on an average consumption rate.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the filling fills such that the first expected duration of time is shorter than a second expected duration of time, the second expected duration of time being a time period upon which flavor scalping is expected to occur for the first set of pouches following an exposure to ambient air. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the establishing establishes such that the first panel and the second panel are configured to be folded onto each other. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing an outer package,   inserting the inner package into the outer package.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the establishing establishes such that the first panel including a first end that is at least partially heat sealed, the first end defining a first tear-point that is configured to allow a first portion of the first end to be removed to allow access to a first re-closeable seal. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the establishing establishes such that a first interfacing edge of the first panel is connected to a second interfacing edge of the second panel, the second panel including a second end that is at least partially heat sealed. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the establishing establishes such that the second end defines a second tear-point that is configured to allow a second portion of the second end to be removed to allow access to a second re-closeable seal. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the establishing establishes such that the first re-closeable seal and the second re-closeable seal are on a third end of the first compartment and a fourth end of the at least one second compartment, respectively. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 providing an outer package,   inserting the inner package into the outer package,   wherein the first end defines a first slit and the second end defines a second slit, the first panel and the second panel being folded onto each other such that the first slit is aligned with the second slit, and the outer package defines at least one third slit, the at least one third slit being aligned with the first slit and the second slit.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the establishing establishes such that the first end defines a first slit and the second end defines a second slit, and the first slit and the second slit are configured to align once the first panel and the second panel are folded onto each other. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 the establishing establishes such that the at least one second compartment includes a second compartment and a third compartment, and   the filling fills such that the second compartment includes a second set of pouches, and the third compartment is empty.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein establishing establishes such that the third compartment is a different size than the first compartment and the second compartment. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the filling fills such that each of the first set of pouches and the second set of pouches includes a quantity of consumer product pouches that are to be consumed during the first expected duration of time based on the average consumption rate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the filling fills such that the first expected duration of time is shorter than a second expected duration of time, the second expected duration of time being a time period upon which flavor scalping is expected to occur for the quantity of the consumer product pouches following an exposure to ambient air. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 the establishing establishes such that the first panel includes a plurality of first panels that are subdivided by tear lines, the plurality of first panels defining a plurality of first compartments that are identical to the first compartment, and   the filling fills each of the plurality of first compartments with the first set of pouches.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the establishing establishes such that the plurality of first panels and the second panel are folded onto each other in an accordion configuration, the inner package being configured to allow at least one of a first end panel or a second end panel, of the plurality of first panels and the second panel, to be separated and extended from sides of the accordion configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the establishing establishes such that the at least one layer of material is made from a recyclable material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the establishing establishes such that the at least one layer of material including at least one first polymer layer and a gas/moisture impermeable layer, the at least one first polymer layer forming an interior surface of the first compartment and the second compartment. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the establishing establishes such that the gas/moisture impermeable layer is a foil layer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 exposing an inside of the first compartment and the second compartment to at least one oxygen scavenger, the exposing including at least one of
 enclosing the at least one oxygen scavenger in at least one of the first compartment or the second compartment, 
 infusing the at least one oxygen scavenger within the at least one layer of material, or 
 connecting the at least one oxygen scavenger to an inner layer of at least one of the first compartment or the second compartment.