초록

Methods of making non-durable self-supporting flexible containers.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of forming a flexible container, the method comprising: providing a first sheet assembly portion with a first flexible outer sheet and a first flexible inner sheet, wherein: the first flexible inner sheet is a flexible material having a flexibility factor of 1,000-2,500,000 Newtons per m

1. A method of forming a flexible container, the method comprising: providing a first sheet assembly portion with a first flexible outer sheet and a first flexible inner sheet, wherein: the first flexible inner sheet is a flexible material having a flexibility factor of 1,000-2,500,000 Newtons per meter; andthe first flexible outer sheet is a flexible material having a flexibility factor of 1,000-2,500,000 Newtons per meter;joining at least a portion of the first flexible inner sheet to at least a portion of the first flexible outer sheet, to form: a first multi-wall panel, wherein: the first multi-wall panel is surrounded by seams that join the first flexible inner sheet to the first flexible outer sheet;the first flexible inner sheet and the first flexible outer sheet are in overlapping contact with each other between the seams, along substantially all of the first multi-wall panel;the first flexible inner sheet and the first flexible outer sheet are independent from one another along the first multi-wall panel; andthe first multi-wall panel overlays a product volume; andat least a portion of the product volume, which includes the first flexible inner sheet but does not include the first flexible outer sheet;a first plurality of structural support volumes in the first sheet assembly portion, including: a first structural support volume on a left side of the first sheet assembly portion and at least partially bounding the first multi-wall panel; anda second structural support volume on a right side of the first sheet assembly portion and at least partially bounding the first multi-wall panel; andexpanding each of the structural support volumes in the first plurality such that: the first structural support volume forms a first expanded structural support volume, which is a fillable space made from one or more flexible materials and filled with one or more gases at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, such that the first expanded structural support volume is made rigid;the second structural support volume forms a second expanded structural support volume, which is a fillable space made from one or more flexible materials and filled with one or more gases at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, such that the second expanded structural su ort volume is made rigid; andthe first and second structural support volumes generate and maintain tension in the first multi-wall panel; andfilling the product volume so that the product volume directly contains a fluent product. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing a second sheet assembly portion with a second flexible outer sheet and a second flexible inner sheet, wherein: the second flexible inner sheet is a flexible material having a flexibility factor of 1,000-2,500,000 Newtons per meter; andthe second flexible outer sheet is a flexible material having a flexibility factor of 1,000-2,500,000 Newtons per meter;joining at least a portion of the second flexible inner sheet to at least a portion of the second flexible outer sheet, to form: a second multi-wall panel, wherein: the second multi-wall panel is surrounded by seams that join the second flexible inner sheet to the second flexible outer sheet;the second flexible inner sheet and the second flexible outer sheet are in overlapping contact with each other between the seams, along substantially all of the second multi-wall panel;the second flexible inner sheet and the second flexible outer sheet are independent from one another along the second multi-wall panel; andthe second multi-wall panel overlays the product volume; andat least a portion of the product volume, which includes the second flexible inner sheet but does not include the second flexible outer sheet;a plurality of structural support volumes in the second sheet assembly portion, including: a third structural support volume on a right side of the second sheet assembly portion and at least partially bounding the second multi-wall panel; anda fourth structural support volume on a left side of the second sheet assembly portion and at least partially bounding the second multi-wall panel; andexpanding each of the structural support volumes in the second plurality such that: the third structural support volume forms a third expanded structural support volume, which is a fillable space made from one or more flexible materials and filled with one or more gases at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, such that the third expanded structural support volume is made rigid;the fourth structural support volume forms a fourth expanded structural support volume, which is a fillable space made from one or more flexible materials and filled with one or more gases at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, such that the fourth expanded structural support volume is made rigid; andthe third and fourth structural support volumes generate and maintain tension in the second multi-wall panel. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first inner sheet and the second inner sheet are formed from different areas of a same web of material. 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first outer sheet and the second outer sheet are formed from different areas of a same web of material. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the joining includes forming the first multi-wall panel, which is free from any expanded chambers. 6. The method of claim 2, wherein the joining includes forming the second multi-wall panel, which is free from any expanded chambers. 7. The method of claim 2, including: bringing together the first sheet assembly and the second sheet assembly; andat least partially joining the first sheet assembly to the second sheet assembly, to at least partially form the product volume. 8. The method of claim 7, including bringing together the first sheet assembly and the second sheet assembly by folding. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the expanding begins before the filling. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of structural support volumes is expanded before the product volume is filled. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the expanding and the filling occur at overlapping times. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the expanding and the filling occur simultaneously.