# US 9,520,150 B2 · Flexible package and method of making same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,520,150 B2 - Document ID: US9520150B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/948,439 - Filed: 2013-07-23 - Published: 2014-01-30 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2012-07-27 - Assignees: The Procter & Gambel Company - Applicants: The Procter & Gamble Company - Inventors: Andreas Peter Motsch; Oliver Heilmann; Christoph Wolfgang Siegfried Beck; Lucio Frias; Sarah Ann Lavash; Thomas Rethschulte; Rudolph Haimerl; Alfons Stahl - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9520150B2 ## CPC - G11B 5/6088: {Optical waveguide in or on flying head} - B65D 75/563: {Integral handles or suspension means (B65D75/566 takes precedence)} - B65D 77/22: Details - B65D 85/07: for compressible or flexible articles (for wearing apparel B65D85/18) - B65D 75/5833: {for tearing out a portion of the wall} - B65D 2575/56: Handles or other suspension means - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) - 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 ## Abstract A flexible package being capable and being adapted for accommodating a multiplicity of absorbent articles. The package has a substantially parallelepiped-shape and further comprises a frame. The frame is completely surrounding the top gusset extending upwardly and substantially orthogonally from the top gusset. The flexible package also comprises a handle extending over the top gusset. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing a flexible package. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The flexible package of claim 1, wherein the height of the frame is from about 5 mm to about 50 mm, or from about 5 mm to about 25 mm or from about 5 mm to about 10 mm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The flexible package of claim 2, wherein the height of the seal is from about 1.0 mm to about 25 mm, or from about 1.0 mm to about 10 mm or from about 1.0 mm to about 5 mm, wherein the ratio H/Hs is at least about 5. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The flexible package of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises one or more openings in order to grasp and lift the flexible package. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The flexible package of claim 1, wherein a line of weakness is provided along a longitudinal centerline of the handle, wherein two openings are located on each side of the line of weakness, the line of weakness divides the handle in two handle portions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The flexible package of claim 1, wherein, in the portion of the handle which is sealed to the frame, the inner surface of the handle is treated with an anti-seal varnish or coated with a polymer material, the anti-seal varnish or the polymer material melts at a temperature above the melting point of the material in which the handle is made. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The flexible package of claim 1, wherein the top gusset has first and second longitudinal edges and first and second transversal edges and comprises a first line of weakness, at least a portion of the first line of weakness being substantially parallel and adjacent to the first longitudinal edge of the top gusset; a second line of weakness, at least a portion of the second line of weakness being substantially parallel and adjacent to the second longitudinal edge of the top gusset; a third line of weakness adjacent to the first or second transversal edge of the top gusset, the third line of weakness being substantially perpendicular to the first and second longitudinal edges of the top gusset and the third line of weakness connecting the first and second lines of weakness. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The flexible package of claim 7, wherein a fourth line of weakness is extending from the front wall through the outer and inner layers of the frame and through the handle into the top gusset, a fifth line of weakness is extending from the rear wall through the outer and inner layers of the frame and through the handle into the top gusset and the fourth and fifth lines of weakness are connected to each other by the third line of weakness. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The flexible package of claim 1, wherein the top gusset having a first longitudinal edge, a second longitudinal edge opposite the first longitudinal edge, a longitudinal fold between the first and second longitudinal edges, a first transversal edge, and a second transversal edge opposite the first transversal edge, the top gusset comprising: a first line of weakness, at least a portion of the first line of weakness being substantially parallel and adjacent to the first longitudinal edge of the top gusset, wherein the first line of weakness is positioned between the first longitudinal edge and the longitudinal fold; a second line of weakness, at least a portion of the second line of weakness being substantially parallel and adjacent to the second longitudinal edge of the top gusset, wherein the second line of weakness is positioned between the second longitudinal edge and the longitudinal fold; a third line of weakness adjacent to the first or second transversal edge of the top gusset, the third line of weakness being substantially perpendicular to the first and second longitudinal edges of the top gusset and the third line of weakness connecting the first and second lines of weakness.