Description of Prior Art A conventional packaging system for liquids such as wine, fruit juices, sauces, and detergents, is known as the"bag-in-box"system and comprises a flexible package which is housed within a box-like container. This system suffers from the disadvantage that additional material is required for the box structure, and the filling cycle is significantly lengthened and complicated by the erecting, packaging and closing operations of the box structure.

The known flexible insert package of the bag-in-box system comprises a pair of generally rectilinear side walls which are welded to one another along their peripheries to define a pillow-like structure. A dispensing valve is welded into one of the side walls. Such a structure has several disadvantages including difficulties in filling, etc.

Object of the invention It is an object of the present invention to provide an economically and ecologically attractive alternative to the bag-in-box system or rigid containers for liquids such as wine, fruit juices, sauces, detergents and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel flexible package which is free standing when filled and which can be folded to a flat configuration, and consequently requires very little storage space prior to use and thereafter.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a flexible bag which can be supplied as a sealed unit to prevent the ingress of contaminates during storage and transit thereof.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a flexible package having a filling and dispensing port with a removable cap so that during filling, maximum expulsion of air is obtained to reduce head space in the filled package.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible package having finger holds or hand holds in the material of the package.

Disclosure of the Invention According to the invention, a container of flexible sheet material, comprises a pair of opposed side wall panels having longitudinal sides and an upper end and lower end, the side wall panels being secured to one another at their longitudinal sides to define a tubular structure, a base panel extending between the longitudinal sides of the side wall panels and being secured towards one end of the tubular structure, and a roof panel extending between the longitudinal sides of the side wall panels and being secured towards the other end of the tubular

structure, the base panel and roof panel each folding inwardly between the side wall panels in two halves superimposed on one another when the container is in a deflated configuration.

Further according to the invention, the base panel and the roof panel are each secured to the respective side wall panels along a curved securing line extending between the longitudinal sides of the end wall panels so that when in an inflated configuration, the tubular structure assumes a rounded profile which is free standing. Preferably, the base panel and roof panel will be secured to the respective side wall panels along a generally oval or elliptical securing line.

Still further according to the invention the base panel and roof panel are secured along their sides formed when folded in two halves and their sides are further secured to the longitudinal sides of the side wall panels.

Also according to the invention, material of the side wall panels extends beyond the curved securing line of the roof panel, and is cut or punched to define hand or finger holds. Preferably, the material of the roof panel will overlap with that of the side wall panels to provide a doubled layer of material at each side wall panel above the securing line of the roof panel for strengthening purposes.

Still further according to the invention, the flexible package includes a filling and dispensing port in one side wall panel, such filling and dispensing port being adapted to receive a removable dispensing valve. With such an arrangement,

the port will be opened during filling to allow for maximum expulsion of air, resulting in reduced head space in filled packs. After filling, a dispensing valve will be employed to close the port.

Brief Description of the Drawings Further features of the invention will appear from the embodiment which is described below purely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a free standing flexible package in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view of panels which are secured together to constitute the flexible package in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top view of the package in Figure 1 in an inflated state; Figure 4 is a side view of the package in Figure 1 in a partially deflated configuration; and Figure 5 is a side view of the package in Figure 1 in a deflated configuration.

Detailed Description of Drawings Referring to the drawings, a free standing flexible package 10 in accordance with the invention is made of heat salable, weldable plastics material and is in particular suitable for containing and dispensing liquids and/or paste.

The flexible package comprises a pair of opposed side wall panels 11 which are of a generally rectilinear configuration. The side wall panels 11 are secured to one another along their longitudinal sides 11 a to form a tubular structure. A base panel 12 is secured to the tubular structure towards one end thereof along a curved line 12a on the base panel 12 and along an equivalent line 11c on the side wall panels 11. Likewise, a roof panel 13 is secured towards the other end of the tubular structure along a curved line 13a, which matches the curved line 11b on the side wall panels 11. Thus, the curved lines 12a, 13a, will define a generally elliptical base for closing the tubular structure formed by the side wall panels 11. In an inflated or filled configuration, the tubular structure will form a stable barrel-like cylinder type bag. In the deflated form, the base panel 12 and roof panel 13 will fold inwardly in two halves to lie between the side wall panels 11 for compact storage and transport, before and after use.

The base 12 when folded in two halves as shown in Figure 2 is further secured along its sides 12c by means of welding or the like and such sides are secured to the longitudinal sides 11 a of the sides panels 11 at 11g. The same applies to the roof panel 13 in which the sides 13c thereof are secured to one another when folded into two halves as shown. Such sides 13c are in turn secured to the longitudinal sides 11 a of the side wall panels 11 at 11 f. The base panel 12 thus forms a downwardly directed pouch and the roof panel 13 forms an upwardly directed pouch, when the container is in a flattened deflated state.

These pouches are shown in Figure 1.

The panels 11,12 and 13 will in most instances be constructed from laminated material or co-extruded multi-layer material. It is envisaged that the construction of the laminate/co-extrusion material, will have a sealant layer of polyethylene, ionomer, polypropylene, or acid co-polymer. The other layers will be added either by means of dry bond lamination, extrusion lamination or co-extrusion to provide the necessary barrier properties required by the product to be contained in the bag, for example, Metalised Polyester, PVDC Coated Polyester, Polyamide Metallised Polyamide, Polyamide/EVOH/Polyamide Co-Extrusion, Clear Polyester, Aluminium Foil, Silica Oxide on Aluminium Oxide Coated Polyester.

Material 11d of the side wall panels 11, which extends beyond the roof panel 13, may be punched or cut to define carry apertures 11e, or carry handles, Figure 2.

Preferably material of the roof panel 13 will overlie side wall panel material 11d and be provided with aligned apertures/handles 13b. Material at the apertures handles 11 e, 13b, will thus be a double layer for strengthening purposes.

The flexible package 10 of the invention further includes a filling/dispensing port 14 in one side wall panel 11 strategically located near the base panel 12.

Preferably the port 14 will be provided with a removable cap which is removed during filling. Once filled, a dispensing valve 15 can be utilised to close the filling/dispensing port.

It has been found that with the arrangement of the invention achieves free- standing characteristics for the container which are superior to conventional self- standing pouches as a result of the V-shaped base 12 and roof 13. The carry holes 11e, 13b, at the top of the package 10, permit easy handling and also enables the bag to be lifted without compressing the contents during dispensing, a feature which would be traditionally provided by the handle of a carton of the bag in box system. Moreover, the dispensing port/tap 14,15, being strategically situated near the base 12 permits gravity dispensing of a product requiring minimal lifting or tilting of the package 10.

Doubtless variations in detail of the invention are possible and it is intended that these should fall within the scope of the consistory clauses and the spirit of this disclosure.