Flexible package and method of making same

A flexible package for accommodating a multiplicity of compressible articles, having a substantially parallelepiped-shape comprising:

• a front wall, a rear wall, opposite sides, a bottom and a top gusset;
• a first panel, the first panel forming the front wall, a portion of each of the opposite sides and a portion of the bottom;
• a second panel, the second panel forming the rear wall, a portion of each of the opposite sides and a portion of the bottom,
• wherein the first and the second panels are connected to each other at the two opposite sides along first and second side seams;
• a third panel, the third panel forming the top gusset;
• a frame comprising:
• an outer layer which consists of portions of the first and second panels;
• an inner layer which consists of a portion of the third panel;
• an upper edge forming a boundary between a portion of the first and third panels and between a portion of the second and third panels;
• and
• a lower edge defined by a seal,
• wherein the upper edge is separated from the lower edge by a height, wherein the height is greater than a height of the seal,
• wherein the frame is completely surrounding the top gusset extending upwardly and substantially orthogonally from the top gusset;
• and
• a handle extending over the top gusset, the handle comprising:
• an inner surface;
• an outer surface;
• a first end edge and a second end edge opposite the first end edge;
• and
• a central region between the first end edge and the second end edge, wherein the central region extends from the upper edge of the frame in a direction away from the top gusset;
• wherein the handle is attached to the frame at or adjacent to its two opposite end edges such that the outer surface of the handle is in direct contact with the inner layer of the frame, the handle being attached to the frame by the seal, wherein the seal joins a portion of the handle adjacent to the two opposite end edges, the inner layer, and the outer layer of the frame together.