Patent · US Expired

Self-expanding flexible pouch including improved extensible stay to maximize opening

US5184896A · kind A · utility

59Cited by
64References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 11, 1991
Grant dateFeb 9, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 11, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65D33/007
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A self-expanding flexible pouch that can be used as the measuring device for reconstituting a concentrated product contained therein. The pouch includes an improved one-piece extensible stay located in the throat area of the flexible pouch that is biased toward a relaxed, expanded, circular configuration but is initially held substantially flat in a stressed condition by the sealed top portion of the pouch. When the top portion of the pouch is removed, the improved stay expands to its relaxed, expanded configuration and thereby expands and opens the throat area of the pouch. The improved stay comprises a one-piece, continuous extensible loop having a pair of opposed hinges. The hinges are thinner in thickness than the remaining portions of the loop and aligned with the side peripheral edges of the pouch. Two opposed thick-walled sections are located between the opposed hinges. The opposed thick-walled sections provide the automatic opening force for the pouch. The thick-walled sections are substantially aligned with and secured in fixed relation to the front and back sidewall panels of the pouch. Two ribs are located on said opposed thick-walled sections to prevent the stay from st…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.