Compact storage device for food-grade pouches

Abstract

A storage pouch includes first and second panels formed from a flexible sheet material and joined along lateral and bottom edges to define an interior storage cavity and an open mouth along opposed upper edges. A first stiffening member extends along the upper edge of the first panel and a second stiffening member extends along the upper edge of the second panel. A first set of magnets on the first stiffening member and a second set of magnets on the second stiffening member are arranged in opposed pairs and generate magnetic attraction that draws the stiffening members together to close the mouth. The panels are deformable under inward lateral compression to separate the stiffening members and open the mouth.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 762,465, filed February 24, 2025, titled "COMPACT STORAGE DEVICE FOR FOOD-GRADE (E.G., NICOTINE) POUCHES," the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to small, portable textile-based containers and, more particularly, to compact, soft-bodied pouches formed from food-grade materials.BACKGROUND

[0003] Some oral consumables (e.g., nicotine pouches, snus portions, caffeine pouches, nootropic pouches, and the like) are commonly sold in rigid circular plastic or metallic tins. These tins are typically bulky when carried in clothing pockets and small bags. Additionally, their appearance is readily recognizable as associated with tobacco or nicotine products, which some users may find undesirable.

[0004] Some users transfer the contents of such tins into secondary containers, such as coin purses, zip pouches, and / or general purpose plastic containers. Such approaches, however, present various shortcomings. Many general purpose plastic containers are not intended or certified for direct food contact. Additionally, conventional small leather goods (e.g., coin purses and zip pouches) often use snap fasteners, zippers, or hinges that increase thickness and typically require two-handed operation. Furthermore, metallic or plastic "replacement cans" mimic the form factor of original tins and remain relatively thick, rigid, and conspicuous.

[0005] This background discussion is intended to provide information related to the present disclosure, which is not necessarily prior art.BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0006] This brief description is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described in the detailed description below. This brief description is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanying figures.

[0007] In various examples, a storage pouch is provided. The storage pouch includes a first panel formed from a flexible sheet material and a second panel formed from the flexible sheet material. The second panel is joined to the first panel along respective lateral edges and a bottom edge. The first and second panels define an interior storage cavity and an open mouth along opposed upper edges of the first and second panels. The storage pouch also includes a first stiffening member extending along the upper edge of the first panel and a second stiffening member extending along the upper edge of the second panel. Furthermore, the storage pouch includes a first set of magnets mounted on the first stiffening member and a second set of magnets mounted on the second stiffening member. The first set of magnets are arranged in opposed pairs with the second set of magnets and generate a magnetic attraction that draws the first and second stiffening members together in a closed position of the mouth. Additionally, the first and second panels are deformable under inward lateral compression adjacent the mouth. The inward lateral compression separates the first and second stiffening members against the magnetic attraction and opens the mouth. Release of the inward lateral compression permits the first and second stiffening members to return toward alignment under the magnetic attraction.

[0008] In various examples, a method of manufacturing a storage pouch is provided. The method includes cutting a first panel blank from a flexible sheet material. The first panel blank includes a first main panel portion and a first integral flap portion at an upper edge of the first main panel portion. The method also includes cutting a second panel blank from the flexible sheet material. The second panel blank includes a second main panel portion and a second integral flap portion at an upper edge of the second main panel portion. The method also includes mounting a first stiffening member along the first panel blank and mounting a second stiffening member along the second panel blank. Furthermore, the method includes mounting a first set of magnets on the first stiffening member and mounting a second set of magnets on the second stiffening member. The first and second sets of magnets are arranged in opposed pairs. In addition, the method includes folding the first integral flap portion over the first stiffening member and the first set of magnets, enclosing the first stiffening member and the first set of magnets between layers of the flexible sheet material of the first panel blank. The folding defines an upper edge of the first panel blank. The method includes folding the second integral flap portion over the second stiffening member and the second set of magnets, enclosing the second stiffening member and the second set of magnets between layers of the flexible sheet material of the second panel blank. The folding defines an upper edge of the second panel blank. Moreover, the method includes joining the first panel blank and the second panel blank along lateral edges and a bottom edge. The joined first and second panel blanks enclose an interior storage cavity and define an open mouth along the opposed upper edges of the first and second panel blanks. The opposed pairs of magnets generate a magnetic attraction that draws the first and second stiffening members together in a closed position of the mouth.

[0009] A variety of additional aspects will be set forth in the detailed description that follows. These aspects can relate to individual features and to combinations of features. Advantages of these and other aspects will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of the example embodiments which have been shown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, the present aspects described herein may be capable of other and various aspects, and their details are capable of modification in various respects. Accordingly, the figures and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The figures described below depict various aspects of systems and methods disclosed therein. It should be understood that each figure depicts an embodiment of a particular aspect of the disclosed systems and methods, and that each of the figures is intended to accord with a possible embodiment thereof. Further, wherever possible, the following description refers to the reference numerals included in the following figures, in which features depicted in multiple figures are designated with consistent reference numerals.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a portable storage pouch, according to various aspects of the disclosure;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the portable storage pouch of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the portable storage pouch of FIG. 1;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of the portable storage pouch of FIG. 1;

[0015] FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the portable storage pouch of FIG. 1, taken along line 5-5 shown in FIG. 3;

[0016] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the portable storage pouch of FIG. 1; and

[0017] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a method of manufacturing the portable storage pouch of FIG. 1, according to various aspects of the disclosure.

[0018] Unless otherwise indicated, the figures provided herein are meant toillustrate features of embodiments of this disclosure. These features are believed to be applicable in a wide variety of systems comprising one or more embodiments of this disclosure. As such, the figures are not meant to include all conventional features known by those of ordinary skill in the art to be required for the practice of the embodiments disclosed herein.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The following detailed description of embodiments of the invention references the accompanying figures. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those with ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention. The embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation. Other embodiments may be utilized, and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the claims. The following description is, therefore, not limiting. The scope of the present disclosure is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.POUCH CONSTRUCTION

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1-6, a portable storage pouch 10 includes a first (or front) panel 12 and a second (or back) panel 14. The front panel 12 is coupled to the back panel 14, enclosing or defining an interior space for receiving one or more objects therein. In the example embodiment, the front panel 12 is coupled to the back panel 14 at one or more continuous seams, for example, by stitching, sewing, adhesive bonding, heat welding, or other bonding technique along a length of the panel seams. For example, the front panel 12 and back panel 14 are joined along first and second lateral edges 16, 18 and along a bottom edge 20 by perimeter stitching 46 or other suitable joining technique, enclosing or defining an interior storage cavity 24 and an open mouth 22 opposite the bottom edge 20.

[0021] In various examples, the panels 12, 14 are fabricated from a food-grade food-grade synthetic leather material. The synthetic leather material 26 may be selected to provide a balance of feel, durability, and flexibility. In various embodiments, the material 26 may have a thickness within a range between about two-hundredths (0.02) of an inch and about one-tenth (0.10) of an inch, inclusive, although other thicknesses may be used. It is noted that material 26 may be any durable yet pliable material (e.g., natural or synthetic leather, thermo-plastic elastomer (TPE), polymers, natural or synthetic rubber, paper or cardboard with or without natural or synthetic textile fibers or coatings, composites, aramids, combinations of the same, and the like) that enables the portable storage pouch 10 to function as described herein.

[0022] In various examples, the perimeter stitching 46 may be formed with a continuous thread suitable for textile goods, such as a polyester or nylon thread. Stitch patterns may include lock stitches, chain stitches, or combinations thereof. In various implementations, a soft edge 58 is formed by trimming and optionally beveling exposed edges of the material 26 and then applying one or more coats of edge paint to the edge 58 to seal, smooth, and visually finish the perimeter.

[0023] In various examples, the portable storage pouch 10 is configured to hold a plurality of oral consumables (not shown), such as oral nicotine pouches, snus portions, mints, or lozenges. In an example embodiment, the interior storage cavity 24 may be sized to store approximately fifteen (15) oral nicotine pouches in loose form. It is contemplated that other capacities may be used in different embodiments.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 6, in various examples, each of the panels 12, 14 is cut from a single blank sheet of the material 26. The panels 12, 14 respectively include main panel portions 12a, 14a and integral flap portions 40, 42 at upper edges. As described further herein, during assembly, the flap portions 40, 42 are folded back toward the interior storage cavity 24.

[0025] A first backing fabric sheet 30 is applied across substantially an entire inner surface of the front main panel portion 12a, and a second backing fabric sheet 50 is applied across substantially an entire inner surface of the back main panel portion 14a. Food-safe polymeric linings 28, 48 are respectively disposed on inner surfaces of the backing fabric sheets 30, 50 along the main panel portions 12a, 14a. The linings 28, 48 define the primary food-contact surfaces within the interior storage cavity 24. In various embodiments, the linings 28, 48 include a transparent polyurethane film. In various examples, the linings 28, 48 may be thermoplastic polyurethane, silicone, or other food-grade polymer.

[0026] The linings 28, 48 extend upward along the panels 12, 14 and terminate at upper edges 52, 54, respectively, below the mouth 22 region. In the illustrated example, the upper edges 52, 54 are respectively captured in transverse stitch lines 44, 56, extending across the main panel portions 12a, 14a. Below the transverse stitch lines 44, 56, the interior storage cavity 24 is bounded or defined by lining-to-lining contact when the portable storage pouch 10 is closed.

[0027] The upper regions of the panels 12, 14, above the stitch lines 44, 56, define a mouth construction region in which stiffening plates 32, 34 and magnets 36, 38 are encapsulated, as discussed below. As noted above, the upper edges 52, 54 of the linings 28, 48 are respectively captured in transverse stitch lines 44, 56 but do not extend into the mouth construction region.

[0028] In various examples, in the upper region of each panel 12, 14, a layered construction is provided. Referring to FIG. 5, an example layered construction of the back panel 14 is depicted. As depicted in FIG. 5, from an exterior side toward an interior side, the layered construction includes the outer layer of material 26 forming a visible outer surface of the panel 14; the backing fabric sheet 50 disposed against the inner face of the outer layer of material 26 in the region of the mouth 22, the backing fabric sheet 50 reinforcing stitching and reducing tear-out; the stiffening plate 34 positioned inside the backing fabric 50; one or more magnets 38 attached to the stiffening plate 34; and the integral flap portion 42 of the back panel 14 (part of the material 26), folded over the stiffening plate 34 and magnets 38 toward the interior. It should be noted that the degree of overlap between the components of such a layered construction may vary within the scope of the present examples. Further, the construction of the front panel 12 is a mirror image and includes the same layered construction discussed here for the back panel 14, and redundant discussion is omitted for the sake of brevity.

[0029] In example embodiments, the stiffening plates 32, 34 may be fabricated from a flexible, resilient material configured to deform elastically and recover its unflexed state without permanent deformation. In various examples, the material for the stiffening plates 32, 34 may include a plastic, metal, composite, or other flexible, resilient materials maintaining a low profile. In some embodiments, each stiffening plate 32, 34 may have a thickness within a range between about eight-thousandths (0.008) of an inch and about six- hundredths (0.06) of an inch, inclusive. In other embodiments, thicker or thinner stiffening plates can be used.

[0030] The backing fabric sheets 30, 50 may each, for example, include woven or non-woven materials, such as polyester, nylon, cotton, and the like. In various examples, the backing fabric sheets 30, 50 may be attached to inner surfaces of the outer layers of panels 12, 14, respectively, by adhesive, stitching, lamination, or other fabric attachment technique. The backing fabric sheets 30, 50 facilitate distributing loads across substantially the entirety of the panels 12, 14, and facilitate improving stitch retention in the region of the mouth 22.

[0031] In various examples, stiffening plates 32, 34 respectively carry magnet sets 36, 38. In the illustrated embodiment, each stiffening plate 32, 34 carries two circular- shaped magnets spaced laterally apart along a width of the mouth 22. It is noted that other numbers and shapes of magnets may be used. For example, in various examples, elongated bar magnets, magnet strips, or a single magnet on each stiffening plate could be used.

[0032] In various embodiments, the magnets 36, 38 are adhesively bonded to the stiffening plates 32, 34. The one or more magnets 36 on the front stiffening plate 32 and the one or more magnets 38 on the back stiffening plate 34 are positioned such that, when the mouth 22 is closed, each magnet 36 is aligned with a corresponding magnet 38. The polarities of the magnets 36, 38 are arranged so that aligned magnets are mutually attractive in the closed position.

[0033] In the example embodiment, the integral flap portions 40, 42 are folded downward over the stiffening plates 32, 34 and magnets 36, 38 toward the interior sides of the main panel portions 12a, 14a, respectively. Because the flap portions 40, 42 are continuations of the panels 12, 14, folding creates inner layers of material 26 overlying the stiffening and magnet assemblies.

[0034] In various examples, the flap portions 40, 42 are respectively secured in place by the transverse stitch lines 44, 56. The stitch lines 44, 56 respectively pass through, from outer surface to the interior storage cavity 24: the material 26 of the main panel portions 12a, 14a; the backing fabric sheets 30, 50; the flap portions 40, 42; and the upper edges 52, 54 of the linings 28, 48. In this manner, the transverse stitch lines 44, 56 capture the linings 28, 48 and lock the respective stiffening and magnet assemblies into encapsulated pockets. As a result, the stiffening plates 32, 34 and magnets 36, 38 are respectively enclosed between layers of the material 26 and backing fabric 30, 50. Additionally, the stiffening plates 32, 34 and magnets 36, 38 are not visible or accessible from either the exterior or the interior of the portable storage pouch 10.

[0035] The inner surfaces of the mouth 22 are defined by the inner faces of the folded flap portions 40, 42. Because the material 26 is food-grade, the inner faces of the folded flap portions 40, 42 remain suitable for incidental contact with oral consumables that may be near the mouth 22. Below the stitch lines 44, 56, the interior storage cavity 24 is defined by lining-to-lining contact (i.e., the linings 28, 48), as described above.

[0036] The stiffening plates 32, 34 extend along at least a portion, and in some embodiments substantially the entire width, of the mouth 22, forming stiffened lips along the upper edges of the front and back panels 12, 14. The encapsulated magnets 36, 38 provide magnetic closure force between these stiffened lips. When the portable storage pouch 10 is in a closed configuration, the magnets 36 on the front stiffening plate 32 attract corresponding magnets 38 on the back stiffening plate 34, drawing the stiffened lips together and holding the mouth 22 closed. The stiffening plates 32, 34 provide shape stability so that the lips self-align during closure.

[0037] The portion of the portable storage pouch 10 below the region of the mouth 22 is flexible, allowing the portion to deform when carried or manipulated, while the mouth 22 remains dimensionally stable enough to produce a consistent closure. In various examples, the portable storage pouch 10 is configured to open in response to an inwardly directed lateral compressive force applied substantially perpendicular to the lateral edges 16, 18 adjacent the mouth 22, which deflects the stiffening plates 32, 34, and thus the stiffened lips, sufficiently to overcome the magnetic retention force between the magnets 36, 38 and deform the mouth 22 to form an access opening into the interior storage cavity 24. Upon release or diminution of the applied compressive force, the stiffening plates 32, 34 elastically return toward their nominal aligned position, permitting the magnets 36, 38 to re-establish magnetic coupling and thereby automatically close the mouth 22.

[0038] In various examples, a height 60 (shown in FIG. 3) of the portable storage pouch 10 may be within a range between about two (2) inches and five (5) inches, inclusive. A width 62 of the portable storage pouch 10 may be within a range between about one and one-half (1.5) inches and five (5) inches, inclusive. An overall thickness (shown in FIG. 5) 64 of the portable storage pouch 10 may be within a range between about eight hundredths (0.08) of an inch and twenty-five hundredths (0.25) of an inch, inclusive. It is noted that these dimensions are non-limiting and that any dimensional values may be used that enables the pouch to function as described herein.METHODS OF MANUFACTURE

[0039] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a method 100 of manufacturing the portable storage pouch 10, according to various aspects of the disclosure. In various examples, the portable storage pouch 10 is fabricated according to the method 100, which includes a sequence of cutting, layering, and joining operations performed on the panels 12, 14 and associated components, as described herein. The method 100 is provided by way of example only and the steps of the method may be modified, reordered, or combined in various example.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 7, operation 102 includes cutting a first panel blank (e.g., the front panel 12) and a second panel blank (e.g., the back panel 14) from a sheet of the material 26. Each panel 12, 14 defines the main panel portions 12a, 14a and the integral flap portions 40, 42, respectively. The panels 12, 14 (i.e., the blanks) may be cut by die cutting, laser cutting, waterjet cutting, or other suitable cutting technique. In various examples, one or more seam allowances and / or edge allowances may be incorporated into the cut pattern to accommodate the perimeter stitching 46 and formation of the soft edge 58.

[0041] At operation 104, a first backing fabric sheet 30 is applied across substantially an entire inner surface of the front panel 12, and a second backing fabric sheet 50 is applied across substantially an entire inner surface of the back panel 14. Each backing fabric sheet 30, 50 overlies the corresponding main panel portion 12a, 14a. In various examples, backing fabric sheets 30, 50 may also respectively overlie outer layer portions of the integral flap portions 40, 42. The backing fabric sheets 30, 50 may be coupled to inner surfaces of the material 26, for example, by adhesive, lamination, preliminary stitching, a combination thereof, and the like.

[0042] At operation 106, the food-safe polymeric linings 28, 48 are respectively applied to the interior facing surfaces of the backing fabric sheets 30, 50 along the main panel portions 12a, 14a. In various embodiments, the linings 28, 48 are respectively coupled to the backing fabric sheets 30, 50 by adhesive or heat lamination, such that the linings 28, 48 define the primary food contact surfaces within the interior storage cavity 24. The linings 28, 48 may be trimmed so that respective upper edges 52, 54 terminate below a mouth construction region associated with the flap portions 40, 42. In this manner, the linings 28, 48 extend over the main panel portions 12a, 14a but do not extend into the portions of the panels that will form the stiffened mouth 22, as described below.

[0043] At operation 108, the stiffening plates 32, 34 are respectively positioned on the backing fabric sheets 30, 50 in the upper regions of the panels 12, 14 above the upper edges 52, 54 of the linings 28, 48. For example, the first stiffening plate 32 is placed on the backing fabric sheet 30 along an upper region of the front panel 12 aligned with the intended width of the mouth 22, and the second stiffening plate 34 is placed on the backing fabric sheet 50 along a corresponding upper region of the back panel 14. The stiffening plates 32, 34 are arranged such that, when the panels 12, 14 are joined, the stiffening plates 32, 34 will oppose one another across the mouth 22.

[0044] At operation 110, one or more magnets 36 are attached to the first stiffening plate 32 and one or more magnets 38 are attached to the second stiffening plate 34. In example embodiments, stiffening plates 32, 34 respectively carry two circular magnets 36, 38 spaced apart along the width of the mouth 22. The magnets 36, 38 may be respectively adhesively bonded to the stiffening plates 32, 34, inserted into shallow recesses in the stiffening plates 32, 34, or retained by a combination of adhesive and / or mechanical features. The magnets 36 on the front stiffening plate 32 and the magnets 38 on the back stiffening plate 34 are positioned such that, in a closed configuration of the portable storage pouch 10, each magnet 36 is aligned with a corresponding magnet 38. The polarities of the magnets 36, 38 are arranged such that aligned magnets are mutually attractive and generate a magnetic retention force across the mouth 22. It should be reiterated that operations of the method 100 may be performed other than in the order illustrated in FIG. 7, including where magnets are applied to stiffening plates before stiffening plates are positioned on backing fabric sheets.

[0045] At operation 112, the integral flap portions 40, 42 of the front and back panels 12, 14 are folded over the corresponding stiffening plates 32, 34 and magnets 36, 38 toward the interior side of the main panel portions 12a, 14a. Because the flap portions 40, 42 are continuations of the material 26, folding the flap portions 40, 42 creates inner layers of the material 26 that respectively overlie and cover the stiffening plates 32, 34 and magnets 36, 38. When folded, the stiffening plates 32, 34 and the magnets 36, 38 are positioned between the material 26 and the backing fabric sheets 30, 50 of the main panel portions 12a and 14a, and between the material 26 of the flap portions 40 and 42.

[0046] At operation 114, transverse stitch lines 44, 56 are respectively formed across the panels 12, 14 below the stiffening plates 32, 34. The stitch line 44 extends across the front panel 12, and the stitch line 56 extends across the back panel 14. In various embodiments, each stitch line 44, 56 passes through, from the exterior side toward the interior storage cavity 24: the material 26 of the corresponding main panel portion 12a, 14a; the associated backing fabric sheet 30 or 50; the corresponding folded flap portion 40 or 42; and the associated upper edge 52 or 54 of the lining 28 or 48. The transverse stitch lines 44, 56 thus respectively capture the upper edges 52, 54 of the linings 28, 48 and secure the flap portions 40, 42 in their folded positions, thereby locking the stiffening plates 32, 34 and magnets 36, 38 into encapsulated pockets.

[0047] At operation 116, the assembled front panel 12 and back panel 14 are placed with the linings 28, 48 facing each other, in face-to-face contact for example. The panels 12, 14 are joined along the first and second lateral edges 16, 18 and the bottom edge 20 in a continuous manner. In various embodiments, the joining is performed by perimeter stitching 46 that passes through the material 26, the backing fabric sheets 30, 50, and the portions of the linings 28, 48 adjacent the seams, thereby defining the interior storage cavity 24 and the mouth 22 between the stiffened lips formed by the stiffening plates 32, 34. The stiffening plates 32, 34 and magnets 36, 38 are positioned adjacent the perimeter stitching 46 such that the perimeter stitching 46 does not pass through the stiffening plates 32, 34 or the magnets 36, 38.

[0048] At operation 118, one or more finishing operations are performed. The operations may include trimming one or more seam allowances, refining the outer contour of the portable storage pouch 10, and / or forming the soft edge 58 along the perimeter. In various embodiments, forming the soft edge 58 may include beveling or profiling the exposed edge of the material 26 and applying one or more coats of edge paint to seal and smooth the edge. In various examples, the material 26 may be folded and stitched to provide a wrapped edge, used alone or in combination with edge painting. One or more additional finishing steps may include burnishing or coating the edges, embossing or debossing logos or other indicia, and / or adding one or more needlepoint patterns to one or more exterior(s) of the panels 12, 14.ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

[0049] In this description, references to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "embodiments" or "examples" mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment or example of the technology. Separate references to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "embodiments" or "examples" in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and / or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment or example may also be included in other embodiments or examples but is not necessarily included. Thus, the current technology can include a variety of combinations and / or integrations of the embodiments or examples described herein.

[0050] In the specification and claims, reference may be made to several terms, which shall be defined to have the following meanings. The singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. "Optional" or "optionally" means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where the event occurs and instances where it does not.

[0051] Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and the claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as "about," "approximately," and "substantially" are not to be limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value. Here and throughout the specification and claims, range limitations may be combined and / or interchanged. Such ranges are identified and include all the sub-ranges contained therein unless context or language indicates otherwise.

[0052] Although the present application sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, the legal scope of the description is defined by the words of the claims and equivalent language. The detailed description is to be construed as example only and does not describe every possible embodiment because describing every possible embodiment would be impractical. Numerous alternative embodiments may be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims.

[0053] Throughout the specification, plural instances may implement components, operations, or structures described as a single instance. Although individual operations of one or more methods are illustrated and described as separate operations, one or more of the individual operations may be performed concurrently, and nothing requires that the operations be performed in the order recited or illustrated. Structures and functionality presented as separate components in example configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single component may be implemented as separate components. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements fall within the scope of the subject matter herein. The foregoing statements in this paragraph shall apply unless so stated in the description and / or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description.

[0054] As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," "including," "has," "having" or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non- exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0055] Although the disclosure has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the attached figures, it is noted that equivalents may be employed, and substitutions made herein, without departing from the scope of the disclosure as recited in the claims.

Claims

1. A storage pouch comprising:a first panel formed from a flexible sheet material;a second panel formed from the flexible sheet material and joined to the first panel along respective lateral edges and a bottom edge, the first and second panels defining an interior storage cavity and an open mouth along opposed upper edges of the first and second panels;a first stiffening member extending along the upper edge of the first panel;a second stiffening member extending along the upper edge of the second panel;a first set of magnets mounted on the first stiffening member; anda second set of magnets mounted on the second stiffening member,the first set of magnets being arranged in opposed pairs with the second set of magnets and generating a magnetic attraction that draws the first and second stiffening members together in a closed position of the mouth,the first and second panels being deformable under inward lateral compression adjacent the mouth, the inward lateral compression separating the first and second stiffening members against the magnetic attraction and opening the mouth, and release of the inward lateral compression permitting the first and second stiffening members to return toward alignment under the magnetic attraction.

2. The storage pouch of claim 1,the flexible sheet material comprising a synthetic leather material.

3. The storage pouch of claim 2,the flexible sheet material having a thickness within a range between about two-hundredths of an inch and about one-tenth of an inch, inclusive.

4. The storage pouch of claim 1, comprising:a first lining disposed along an inner surface of the first panel; anda second lining disposed along an inner surface of the second panel,the first and second linings facing one another and defining the interior storage cavity between the first and second linings.

5. The storage pouch of claim 4,the first lining and the second lining being formed of a food-safe polymeric material.

6. The storage pouch of claim 4,the first lining and the second lining each having an upper edge located below the mouth,each upper edge being secured to a corresponding one of the first and second panels by a respective transverse stitch line extending across the panel,the interior storage cavity being located below the transverse stitch lines.

7. The storage pouch of claim 4,the first panel, the second panel, the first lining, and the second lining being joined along the lateral edges and the bottom edge by perimeter stitching,the first stiffening member, the second stiffening member, and the first and second sets of magnets being positioned adjacent a portion of the perimeter stitching such that the perimeter stitching does not pass through the first and second stiffening members or either of the first and second sets of magnets.

8. The storage pouch of claim 4, comprising:a first backing sheet disposed between the first panel and the first lining; anda second backing sheet disposed between the second panel and the second lining,the first stiffening member and the second stiffening member being supported on the first and second backing sheets in regions adjacent the mouth.

9. The storage pouch of claim 1,the first stiffening member being enclosed between layers of the flexible sheet material of the first panel and the second stiffening member being enclosed between layers of the flexible sheet material of the second panel.

10. The storage pouch of claim 9,the first panel including a first integral flap portion folded over the first stiffening member and the first set of magnets,the second panel including a second integral flap portion folded over the second stiffening member and the second set of magnets,the first and second integral flap portions forming inner layers of the flexible sheet material and enclosing the first and second stiffening members and the first and second sets of magnets between the integral flap portions and outer portions of the first and second panels, respectively.

11. The storage pouch of claim 1,the first set of magnets including two first magnets, the two first magnets being spaced apart along a width of the first stiffening member,the second set of magnets including two second magnets, the two second magnets being spaced apart along a width of the second stiffening member.

12. The storage pouch of claim 1,each magnet of the first set of magnets having a polarity opposite to a polarity of a corresponding magnet of the second set of magnets.

13. The storage pouch of claim 1,each of the first stiffening member and the second stiffening member including a plate material having a thickness within a range between about eight-thousandths (0.008) of an inch and about six-hundredths (0.06) of an inch, inclusive.

14. The storage pouch of claim 1,the storage pouch having a thickness of less than about one quarter (0.25) of an inch in the closed position of the mouth.

15. The storage pouch of claim 1, comprising:a soft edge extending along the lateral edges and the bottom edge, the soft edge including a profiled portion of the flexible sheet material of each of the first and second panels at the edges and a coating of edge paint applied over the profiled portions.

16. A method of manufacturing a storage pouch, the method comprising:cutting a first panel blank from a flexible sheet material, the first panel blank including a first main panel portion and a first integral flap portion at an upper edge of the first main panel portion;cutting a second panel blank from the flexible sheet material, the second panel blank including a second main panel portion and a second integral flap portion at an upper edge of the second main panel portion;mounting a first stiffening member along the first panel blank;mounting a second stiffening member along the second panel blank;mounting a first set of magnets on the first stiffening member;mounting a second set of magnets on the second stiffening member, the first and second sets of magnets being arranged in opposed pairs;folding the first integral flap portion over the first stiffening member and the first set of magnets, enclosing the first stiffening member and the first set of magnets between layers of the flexible sheet material of the first panel blank, the folding defining an upper edge of the first panel blank;folding the second integral flap portion over the second stiffening member and the second set of magnets enclosing the second stiffening member and the second set of magnets between layers of the flexible sheet material of the second panel blank, the folding defining an upper edge of the second panel blank; andjoining the first panel blank and the second panel blank along lateral edges and a bottom edge,the joined first and second panel blanks enclosing an interior storage cavity and defining an open mouth along the opposed upper edges of the first and second panel blanks,the opposed pairs of magnets generating a magnetic attraction that draws the first and second stiffening members together in a closed position of the mouth.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising:joining a first backing sheet to an inner surface of the first panel blank;joining a second backing sheet to an inner surface of the second panel blank;applying a first lining to an interior surface of the first backing sheet along the first main panel portion; andapplying a second lining to an interior surface of the second backing sheet along the second main panel portion,the first and second linings facing one another after joining the first and second panel blanks and defining the interior storage cavity between the first and second linings.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising:forming a first transverse stitch line across the first panel blank and through the first lining, the first transverse stitch line securing an upper edge of the first lining below the mouth; andforming a second transverse stitch line across the second panel blank and through the second lining, the second transverse stitch line securing an upper edge of the second lining below the mouth.

19. The method of claim 16,the flexible sheet material comprising a synthetic leather material and having a thickness within a range between about two-hundredths (0.02) of an inch and about one-tenth (0.10) of an inch, inclusive.

20. The method of claim 16, comprising:forming a soft edge extending along the lateral edges and the bottom edge, including by –trimming one or more exposed edges of the first and second panel blanks;profiling the flexible sheet material at the exposed edges; andapplying a coating of edge paint over the profiled flexible sheet material.

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