Cuboid Pouches or Packaging and Methods for Making and Using the Same

The present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Pat. App. No. 63/631,229, titled “Pouch (bag) with 6 sides and extended lip, produced from one or 2 flexible materials with or without closures system, made from any flexible sealable or glued materials to form a cube or box shape for packaging products,” filed Apr. 8, 2024, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The present invention comprises cuboid pouches or packages, specifically pouches or packaging having a cuboid shape such as packaging having, roughly, six sides and roughly in the shape of a cube, a rectangular prism, or other similar shape. The cuboid pouches or packaging preferably includes one or more extended lips, flaps, or seals, providing an opening and/or a hanging element. Preferably, the cuboid pouches or packaging may be made from plastic film, although other materials may also be used, such as coated paper, paperboard, flexible cardstock, or combinations of the same. Methods for making and using the same are further provided.

Flexible packages are used for containing a wide variety of items, both solid and liquid, slurries, pellets, powders, foods, non-food, medical, and other like items or materials. The process of making such pouches or plastic packaging can be accomplished with a wide variety of plastic films and other like films. Often, a flexible plastic film having one or more functional layers is stretched on a forming machine, folded into a configuration, and sealed along edges to produce a package. For example, one way to produce a flexible film packaging is to apply two films together or by folding over a heat-sealable film, sealing the same by applying heat seal bars along the sides thereof, and cutting near the heat seals along the sides thereof as needed forming a two-sided pouch. A more complicated pouch structure may include additional folds and seals to form a gusset, forming a three-sided pouch or package, thereby increasing the volume within the pouch. A gusset may also allow the pouch to stand freely upright.

However, such packaging typically is restricted in the amount of space contained therein for holding materials. Because a traditionally-made pouch is typically two films sealed together around edges, the amount of space therein is based on how much the material can expand or stretch to form the internal volume. Likewise, while the utilization of gussets may increase the volume within a pouch, there are still limitations on the amount of space that can be utilized within such a pouch. Additionally, the inclusion of gussets require a much more complex arrangement of films and seals and the increase in spatial volume is negligible compared to the amount of expense and materials required to produce. Moreover, often the inclusion or addition of gussets is done by adding additional films, which causes the process to be much more complex and costly.

Traditionally-formed pouches, either with or without gussets, typically do not provide a large amount of protection for materials contained therein, especially delicate materials. This is also related to the amount of space contained within the traditionally-made pouches, but also to the amount of surface area presented by the traditionally-made pouches. Because materials within traditionally-made pouches have relatively small volumes and large planar surfaces, impacts to the traditionally-made pouches made directly thereto may easily transfer to the products contained therein, causing damage to the same. In addition,

Moreover, pouches formed in such a manner typically lack presentation options. For example, a traditionally-made pouch typically has a front surface and a back surface on which to print indicia thereon, such as identification indicia for selling the same in markets and the like. As such, the traditionally-made pouches typically may be displayed only in one or two ways, either front facing or rear facing. Turning the pouches in any other position makes it difficult for consumers to read and is ineffective for gaining attention on store shelves.

Traditionally-made pouches, as described herein, typically have few options for openings to obtain the materials therein. A pouch often has an opening along the top thereof. This opening may be restricted, therefore, to the width of the pouch itself, often making it difficult to retrieve objects contained therein. Likewise, the relatively small opening also makes filling the traditionally-made pouches difficult.

A need exists for improved pouches or packaging. Specifically, a need exists for improved pouches or packaging that maximize space within the pouches or packaging. More specifically, a need exists for improved pouches or packaging that allow for a large amount of space within the pouches or packaging while also minimizing the amount of film material used to make the pouches or packaging.

In addition, a need exists for improved pouches or packaging that increase protection for objects contained therein compared to traditionally-formed pouches or packaging. Specifically, a need exists for improved pouches or packaging having a large internal volume that may cushion objects contained therein. In addition, a need exists for improved pouches or packaging wherein the pouches or packaging minimize impacts transferring to objects contained therein, thereby protecting the same.

Moreover, a need exists for improved pouches or packaging that allow printed indicia to be included in numerous ways, such as on any side of the packaging, thereby providing many options for the inclusion of such indicia. In addition, a need exists for improved pouches or packaging that provide several presentation options when placed on shelves, such as in retail stores and the like. Moreover, a need exists for improved pouches or packaging that provides several options for packing and transporting the same, increasing the efficiency of products transported therein.

Further, a need exists for improved pouches or packaging that maximize openings that may be contained within the pouches or packaging. Specifically, a need exists for improved pouches or packaging that allow for the easy retrieval of objects or material contained therein. Likewise, a need exists for improved pouches or packaging that allow for the easy filling of objects or material into the improved pouches or packaging.

The present invention comprises cuboid pouches or packaging, specifically pouches or packaging having a cuboid shape such as packaging having, roughly, six sides and roughly in the shape of a cube, a rectangular prism, or other similar shape. The cuboid pouches or packaging preferably includes one or more extended lips, flaps, or seals, providing an opening and/or a hanging element. Preferably, the cuboid pouches or packaging may be made from plastic film, although other materials may also be used, such as paper, flexible cardstock, or combinations of the same. Methods for making and using the same are further provided.

To this end, in an embodiment of the present invention, a cuboid-shaped pouch or package is provided. The cuboid-shaped pouch or package comprises: a front side surface, a rear side surface, a left side surface, a right side surface, a top side surface, and a bottom side surface; an interior volume within the cuboid pouch or package; and an opening in a top surface thereof, wherein the opening comprises a pathway for adding materials to or removing materials from the interior volume of the cuboid pouch or package, wherein the right side surface and the left side surface each comprise a heat seal extending from corners thereof toward the center of the right and left side surfaces.

In an embodiment, the cuboid pouch or package is made from a medium comprising a thermoplastic film, a coated paper, or a paperboard.

In an embodiment, the medium comprises a heat sealable layer.

In an embodiment, the opening extends from the right side surface and the left side surface across the top side surface.

In an embodiment, the opening comprises a closure.

In an embodiment, the heat seals in the right side surface and the left side surface, respectively, each comprise a V-shaped seal extending from the top corners and further wherein each comprise an upside-down V-shaped seal extending from the bottom corners.

In an embodiment, the cuboid-shaped pouch or package further comprises a linear seal extending from the V-shaped seal and the upside down V-shaped seal.

In an embodiment, the cuboid shaped pouch or package further comprises a first lip or flap extending from the top side surface.

In an embodiment, the first lip or flap extends from a corner between the rear side surface and the top surface thereof.

In an embodiment, the first lip or flap extends from a corner between the front side surface and the top surface thereof.

In an embodiment, the cuboid shaped pouch or package further comprises a second lip or flap extending from the top side surface.

In an embodiment, the first lip or flap extends from a first corner between the rear side surface and the top surface thereof and wherein the second lip or flap extends from a second corner between the front side surface and the top surface thereof.

In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a method of making a cuboid pouch or package is provided. The method comprises the step of: forming a multilayer film by folding a first film over itself or sealing a first film to a second film, wherein the multilayer film comprises a sealed first side and an open second side; folding first and second sides of the multilayer film inwardly to form first and second gussets within the first and second sides of the multilayer film forming a film structure; attaching a closure to the open second side of the multilayer film; applying heat seal bars across the film structure to form heat seals across the film structure to form sealed ends of the film structure; cutting across the film structure near or adjacent the heat seals to form a plurality of lay flat film structure configurations is side-by-side arrangement; expanding the gussets and pushing the sealed ends inwardly to form the cuboid pouch or package.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises the step of: extending a lip or flap from the open second side of the multilayer film.

In an embodiment, the closure is adjacent the lip or flap.

In an embodiment, the closure is a plastic zipper, a tape fastener, a hook and loop fastener, or a magnetic fastener.

In an embodiment, the heat seals of each film structure configuration is in the shape of an X pattern.

In an embodiment, the heat seals of each film structure configuration is in the shape of a V on a top of the sealed end of the film structure, an upside down V on a bottom of the sealed end of the film structure, and a line between the V and the upside down V.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises the step of: filling the cuboid pouch with material.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises the step of: printing indicia on at least one face of the cuboid pouch or package.

It is, therefore, an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide improved pouches or packaging.

Specifically, it is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide improved pouches or packaging that maximize space within the pouches or packaging.

More specifically, it is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide improved pouches or packaging that allows for a large amount of space within the pouches or packaging while also minimizing the amount of film material used to make the pouches or packaging.

In addition, it is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide improved pouches or packaging that increase protection for objects contained therein compared to traditionally-formed pouches or packaging.

Specifically, it is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide improved pouches or packaging having large internal volumes that may cushion objects contained therein.

In addition, a need exists for improved pouches or packaging wherein the pouches or packaging minimize impacts from transferring to objects contained therein, thereby protecting the same.

Moreover, it is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide improved pouches or packaging that allow printed indicia to be included in numerous ways, such as on any side of the packaging, thereby providing many options for the inclusion of such indicia.

In addition, it is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide improved pouches or packaging that provide several presentation options when placed on shelves, such as in retail stores and the like.

Moreover, it is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide improved pouches or packaging that provides several options for packing and transporting the same, increasing the efficiency of products transported therein.

Further, it is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide improved pouches or packaging that maximize openings that may be contained within the pouches or packaging.

Specifically, it is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide improved pouches or packaging that allow for the easy retrieval of objects or material contained therein.

Likewise, it is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide improved pouches or packaging that allow for the easy filling of objects or material into the improved pouches or packaging.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments and from the drawings.

The present invention comprises cuboid pouches or packaging, specifically pouches or packaging having a cuboid shape such as packaging having, roughly, six sides and roughly in the shape of a cube, a rectangular prism, or other similar shape. The cuboid pouches or packaging preferably includes one or more extended lips, flaps, or seals, providing an opening and/or a hanging element. Preferably, the cuboid pouches or packaging may be made from plastic film, although other materials may also be used, such as paper, flexible cardstock, or combinations of the same. Methods for making and using the same are further provided.

Now referring to the figures, wherein like numerals refer to like parts,illustrates a cuboid pouch or packagein an embodiment of the present invention. The cuboid pouchmay comprise a front side surface, a back side surface, a right side surface, a left side surface, a top side surface, and a bottom side surface, as illustrated in. Specifically, the cuboid pouchcomprises, generally, six side surfaces or faces, thereby forming the cuboid structure. The cuboid pouchis illustrated as a rectangular prism, but it should be noted that the cuboid pouch may be a cube, wherein all faces are the same area. In addition, the various sides and faces may be various lengths, thereby forming pouches or packaging having different volumes therein, as necessary for filling with objects or other material.

Preferably, the cuboid pouchmay be formed from a single layer of film, such as film that is manipulated via folding and sealing to form the cuboid pouch, as described below with reference to. However, it should be noted that the cuboid pouchmay be constructed from any number of separate films via sealing of the films together or through a combination of folding, sealing, and cutting. As such, the films used for manufacturing the cuboid pouchmay preferably be thermoplastic films having one or more layers useful for holding products therein. For example, the films may have functional layers, such as oxygen barriers, layers for strength, rigidity, or other like physical characteristics, or other like functionalities. Preferably, the films described herein and used for the manufacture of the cuboid pouchand other structures described below may be heat sealable, such as via a heat sealable layer within the film structure, such that application of heat, such as heat from a sealing bar or the like, may cause the film to seal to itself.

As shown in, the cuboid pouchmay have a plurality of folds or creasesforming the tubular structure of the cuboid pouch. Likewise, through seals, the left and right sides,, may enclose and encapsulate the volumedisposed within the cuboid pouch. The sealsmay be formed having a cross-seal pattern, which may be imparted through the application of heat sealing bars when disposed in a lay-flat configuration, as illustrated in, and as described with respect to. The sealsmay extend roughly at 45 degrees from the sides thereof, extending from the four corners of the left and right sides,. As illustrated in, the cross-seal pattern may be in the form of an “X” or, as shown in, the cross-seal pattern may include an extended vertically or horizontally disposed seal portionbetween the top “V” portion and the bottom upside down “V” portion of the cross-seal. The extended vertically or horizontally disposed seal portionmay allow the height or width of the pouches described herein to vary, thereby allowing for differently shaped cubes and/or rectangular prisms.

As illustrated in, a lip or flapmay extend from the back sideof the cuboid pouch, which may be formed from a plurality of layers, either part of a single film folded over itself or two separate films sealed together. The lip or flapmay operate as a handle for holding the packaging (such as, for example, via apertures or holes applied therein), which may be useful during transport or display of the cuboid pouch, such as display on a retail store shelf or the like. The lip or flap may further serve as a mouth or opening for accessing and/or obtaining objects or material contained within the cuboid pouch. It should be noted that the lip or flap, while shown extending from the back sideof the cuboid pouch, may extend from any side disclosed herein, such as from the front side. Likewise, while the cuboid pouchshows a single lip or flapextending therefrom, a plurality of lips or flaps may extend from the pouch, such as shown inillustrating a first lip or flapextending from a back sideand a second lip or flapextending from a front sideof the cuboid pouchdisclosed therein. The lips or flaps,,,, as described herein, may include apertures or the like for a user to extend his or her hand therethrough for grasping the same or for hanging on a display or for other like purposes.