# US 10,501,250 B2 · Flexible pouch with a larger opening > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,501,250 B2 - Document ID: US10501250B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/654,297 - Filed: 2013-12-19 - Published: 2015-11-19 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-20 - Assignees: SociéTéDes Produits NestléS.A. - Applicants: Nestec S.A. - Inventors: Petar Varbanov - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501250B2 ## CPC - B65D 77/06: Liquids or semi-liquids {or other materials or articles} enclosed in flexible containers disposed within rigid containers - B65B 1/04: Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles - B65B 51/10: Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof {(welding of plastics per se B29C65/02; closing plastic tube ends in general B29C57/10)} - B65D 25/16: Loose, or loosely-attached, linings - B65D 31/16: {of special shape} - B65D 75/008: {Standing pouches, i.e. "Standbeutel"} - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## Abstract The present invention relates to a flexible pouch (1) having a wider opening (2) allowing to get a better access of the content of the pouch (1). The perimeter (a) of the opening (2) of the flexible pouch (1) is greater than the perimeter (b) of its bottom (3). At least one of the lateral folding lines (5) of the flexible pouch (1) comprises a welding line (6) of a width (w). A part or all of the lateral welding lines (6) of the flexible pouch (1) have a width (w) which is not constant along its length. The invention also relates to a kit-of-part comprising the flexible pouch (1) according to the invention and a container (14) adapted to receive said flexible pouch (1). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flexible pouch comprising: an opening with a first perimeter; a bottom with a second perimeter, a ratio of the first perimeter over the second perimeter is from 1.1 to 1.25; at least two side walls; and at least two lateral folding lines, at least one of the at least two lateral folding lines comprising a lateral welding line, and the lateral welding line having a length and a first width near the bottom and a second width near the opening, the first width is greater than the second width. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The flexible pouch according to claim 1, comprising two side walls, two lateral folding lines, and two lateral welding lines. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The flexible pouch according to claim 1, comprising four side walls, four lateral folding lines, and four lateral welding lines. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The flexible pouch according to claim 1, comprising four lateral welding lines that include the lateral welding line, each of the four lateral welding lines having the first width near the bottom and a second width near the opening, the first width is greater than the second width. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The flexible pouch according to claim 1, wherein the lateral welding line is one of at least two lateral welding lines of the flexible pouch, each of the at least two lateral welding lines having the first width near the bottom and a second width near the opening, the first width is greater than the second width. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The flexible pouch according to claim 1, comprising at least one lateral welding line having a width that varies regularly or irregularly along the length of the at least one lateral welding line. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The flexible pouch according to claim 1, comprising at least one lateral welding line that has an interruption between the opening and the bottom at a distance from the opening. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The flexible pouch according to claim 1, further comprising at least two shoulders at a distance from the opening. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The flexible pouch according to claim 1, comprising four side walls, four lateral folding lines, four lateral welding lines, all of the four side walls, the four lateral folding lines, and the four lateral welding lines each having an interruption at a similar distance from the opening, and four shoulders located at the similar distance from the opening. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The flexible pouch according to claim 1, wherein the opening is closed with a closing member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The flexible pouch according to claim 1, wherein the flexible pouch is a stand-up pouch. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The flexible pouch according to claim 1, wherein the bottom comprises a member that improves stability of the flexible pouch. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The flexible pouch according to claim 1, wherein the flexible pouch is manufactured by vertical form-fill-seal technology. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The flexible pouch according to claim 6, wherein the width of the at least one lateral welding line decreases proportionally from the bottom to the opening. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The flexible pouch according to claim 10, wherein the closing member is selected from the group consisting of a plurality of reclose strips, a sticker, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 16 A kit comprising: a flexible pouch comprising an opening with a first perimeter, a bottom with a second perimeter, at least two side walls, at least two lateral folding lines, at least one of the at least two lateral folding lines comprising a lateral welding line, a ratio of the first perimeter over the second perimeter is from 1.1 to 1.25, the lateral welding line having a length and a first width near the bottom and a second width near the opening, the first width greater than the second width; and a container comprising a container base having a third perimeter, a container opening having a fourth perimeter, at least two container side walls, the container is adapted to receive the flexible pouch. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The kit according to claim 16, wherein the container is adapted to receive the flexible pouch even when the flexible pouch is open. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The kit according to claim 16, wherein the third perimeter of the base of the container is smaller than the fourth perimeter of the opening of the container. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The kit according to claim 16, wherein the container opening can be closed or hermetically closed with a lid. ### Claim 20 A method for storing and/or dispensing dried food products, the method comprising storing the dried food products in a flexible pouch, the flexible pouch comprising an opening with a first perimeter, a bottom with a second perimeter, at least two side walls, at least two lateral folding lines, at least one of the at least two lateral folding lines comprising a lateral welding line, a ratio of the first perimeter over the second perimeter is from 1.1 to 1.25, the lateral welding line having a length and a first width near the bottom and a second width near the opening, the first width greater than the second width defining a conical shape of the flexible pouch when the flexible pouch is open. ### Claim 21 A method for providing access to a product stored in a flexible pouch, the method comprising storing the product in the flexible pouch, the flexible pouch comprising an opening with a first perimeter, a bottom with a second perimeter, at least two side walls, at least two lateral folding lines, at least one of the at least two lateral folding lines comprising a lateral welding line, a ratio of the first perimeter over the second perimeter is in a range from 1.1 to 1.25, the lateral welding line having a length and a first width near the bottom and a second width near the opening, the first width greater than the second width.