Collapsible Package and Method

Abstract

A package having one or more collapsible regions or portions is provided. A distinct crease, fold line, material section or separate material can be included with a portion of the package to facilitate collapsibility of a portion of a relatively large package onto or over itself to permit easier access to the interior contents while still allowing for operable use of any access device (e.g., zipper device) provided with the package.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to flexible packaging and, more particularly, to flexible packaging adapted for selective collapsibility.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONConventional flexible packaging configured to hold, transport and dispense relatively heavy or large contents, e.g., pet food, lawn and garden products, etc., are plagued with inherent design and use problems. In general, there are two basic types of package users: those that pour the contents from the package and those that scoop or retrieve contents from the package. Both are presented with difficulties in using larger packages as described above. Namely, large packages can be heavy and cumbersome to pour from, and these packages can make it difficult to scoop internal contents when the contents of the package are significantly used up or absent, e.g., requiring contact with undesirable residue on the interior walls of the package, difficulty with the manipulation of a partially-empty packa...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The first and second panel portions can include a first end portion (e.g., top portion), a second end portion (e.g., bottom portion), and an intermediate portion between the first and second end portions. The access device can be provided along at least a portion of the first and / or second panel portions. The intermediate or collapsible portions, or a portion thereof, can be constructed or configured to permit collapsibility or folding of the first end portion down or otherwise toward or onto the intermediate portion and the second end portion such that the first end portion is essentially pulled down over itself or another portion of the package. In certain embodiments, a plurality of collapsibility portions can be included to provide increased variable telescoping or collapsibility of the package. As such, the overall longitudinal dimension of length of the package is reduced without covering the access device or rendering it inoperable, while simultaneously allowing for selective access to the interior of the package even after the contents are significantly used up or absent.

Problems solved by technology

Even as the collapsible portion of the package is lowered or manipulated, the access device remains unaffected and easily accessible as it remains generally with the exposed first end portions of the first and / or second panel portions.

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