DE9422081U1 - Vessel for holding a liquid bag - Google Patents

Description

E 49 G 1

- 1 - KEIL&SCHAAFHAUSEN

PATENT ATTORNEYS

Container for holding a fluid bag

The invention relates to a vessel for receiving a liquid bag, in particular for drinks, which has a spout that can preferably be closed with a closure plug, on the circumference of which at least two spaced-apart retaining rings are formed.

Such liquid bags are well known and are used, for example, as disposable packaging for fruit juices. The liquid bag filled with fruit juice is placed in a cardboard box in which a hole is made to accommodate the spout.

When the spout is passed through the hole, the elastic cardboard snaps into the area between the retaining rings and is reliably held in this position by the retaining rings. After opening the stopper, the liquid contained in the bag can now be poured out. After emptying the liquid bag, separating the liquid bag from the outer box for disposal is relatively complicated, as the box must first be torn open and then the relatively firm connection between the spout and the box must be loosened. The box is therefore usually thrown away together with the liquid bag inside. In view of the increasingly critical waste problem and the increasing emphasis on the reuse of raw materials, such joint disposal of the plastic liquid bag with the outer box is no longer acceptable. Re-use is also not possible.

04.09.97

- 2 - KEIL&SCHAAFHAUSEN

PATENT ATTORNEYS

It is not possible to use the outer box because the box can become softened by dripping liquid and can also be damaged when opened. Reusing the liquid bag is not advisable because it would require extensive cleaning and sterilization for hygiene reasons.

The object of the invention is therefore to create a reusable container for holding the known liquid bags, which enables easy removal of the liquid bag after it has been emptied.

This object is essentially achieved with the invention in that an upwardly open recess is provided in a peripheral wall, the distance between the side edges of the recess essentially corresponding to the diameter of the grommet in the area between the retaining rings.

In contrast to the previously known boxes, the liquid bag can be inserted from above into the recess in the container according to the invention, whereby the spout is reliably held in the recess of the container and targeted pouring is guaranteed. After emptying the liquid bag, it can be easily removed from the container and disposed of. To do this, the spout is simply pulled upwards out of the recess in the container. Since the container is not damaged, it can easily be used as a reusable container.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the retention of the spout in the recess is improved by the fact that the side edges of the recess are reinforced in such a way that their thickness essentially corresponds to the distance between the retaining rings of the spout. This also prevents the spout from slipping back and forth when pouring. 35

04.09.97

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49 G &igr; j :* _: ..

3 - KEIL&SCHAAFHAUSEN

PATENT ATTORNEYS

A simple manufacture of the vessel is achieved in a further development of this inventive concept in that the side edges of the recess are formed by bent sections of the peripheral wall.
5

According to the invention, pouring out the liquid contained in the liquid bag is made easier by the fact that the recess is formed in a bulged section of the peripheral wall. The vessel thus has a jug-like shape and pouring out can be carried out in a targeted manner.

In order to enable the grommet to be attached in the recess, the bulged section of the peripheral wall is, however, according to the invention, flattened in its area around the recess.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, pouring is further facilitated by the fact that a handle section is formed on the upper edge 0 of the peripheral wall. This allows the vessel to be held in a controlled manner when pouring.

According to the invention, the handle section has a spacer section and an adjoining, essentially V-shaped holding section, whereby the width of the spacer section and the holding section changes continuously over the circumference of the peripheral wall from a minimum width adjoining the bulged section to a maximum width approximately opposite the recess. If the handle section is sufficiently rigid due to the curved shape, a sufficient gripping surface is provided in the area opposite the recess, which is usually gripped. At the same time, it is also possible to grip the side edge of the peripheral wall, for example.

a second hand should be used. Through this

04.09.97

_ 4 _ KEIL&SCHAAFHAUSEN

PATENT ATTORNEYS

The handle section gradually increases in width from front to back, giving the vessel an attractive design.

According to the invention, the vessel can be manufactured easily in that the spacer section and the holding section are formed by bent sections of the peripheral wall, and that the peripheral wall preferably merges into the outer boundary wall of the holding section in its upper region. The entire vessel can thus be manufactured in a single molding process, with a substantially uniform wall thickness facilitating the manufacturing process.

In a further development of the invention, the container is made of plastic, so that even after repeated use, no damage is to be expected, e.g. from dripping liquid.

Further developments, advantages and possible applications of the invention result from the following description of an embodiment and the drawing. All described and/or illustrated features form the subject matter of the invention, either individually or in any combination, regardless of their summary in the claims or their reference back to them.

Show it:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a vessel according to the invention,

Fig. 2 schematically shows a liquid bag for insertion into the vessel according to Fig. 1 and

04.09.97

_ 5 _ KEIL&SCHAAFHAUSEN

PATENT ATTORNEYS

Fig. 3 a vessel according to Fig. 1 with a liquid bag inserted.

The vessel 1 shown in Fig. 1 has a peripheral wall 2, in the front, bulged section 3 of which an upwardly open recess 4 is formed.

In the area around the recess 4, the bulged section 3 is flattened. The recess 4 has reinforced side edges 5, which are formed by bent sections 6 of the peripheral wall 2.

At the upper edge of the peripheral wall 2, a handle section 7 is formed, which has a spacer section 8 and a V-shaped holding section 9. The spacer section 8 and the holding section 9 are formed by bent sections of the peripheral wall 2 and are therefore formed in one piece with it.

The handle section 7 changes its width starting from a minimum width 0 adjacent to the bulged section 3 to a maximum width opposite the recess 4 continuously over the circumference of the peripheral wall 2. In this case, the peripheral wall 2 merges in its upper region into an outer boundary wall 10 of the holding section 9, so that the vessel from the side shows a uniform transition of the peripheral wall 2 into the handle section 7.

A liquid bag 11 shown in Fig. 2 is inserted into the vessel 1. The bag has a spout 12 that can be closed with a closure plug 13. The closure plug 13 can be gripped with handles 14.

Two retaining rings 15 are formed on the spout 12 and extend around its circumference and are spaced apart from one another. The width of the recess 4 in the peripheral wall 2 of the vessel 1 corresponds to

04.09.97

- 6 - KEIL&SCHAAFHAUSEN

PATENT ATTORNEYS

essentially the diameter of the spout 12 in the area between the retaining rings 15. In addition, the thickness of the side edges 5 of the recess 4 essentially corresponds to the distance between the retaining rings 15 of the spout 12. The spout 12 can thus be inserted from 5 above into the recess 4 of the peripheral wall 2 of the vessel 1 and is held securely in the recess 4 via the side edges 5 of the recess 4 and the retaining rings 15 interacting with them, without there being any risk of the liquid bag 11 slipping. The vessel 1 with the liquid bag 11 inserted is shown in Fig. 3.

To pour out the liquid contained in the liquid bag 11, e.g. fruit juice, milk, but also liquid detergent or powdered media, the handle section 7 can be grasped, preferably in the wide area opposite the recess 4, and the liquid can be poured out in a targeted manner via the spout 12 securely held in the recess 4. For support, the 0 can be grasped with a second hand on the side area of the handle section 7.

If the liquid bag 11 is empty, it can easily be pulled out of the recess 4 of the vessel 1 using the spout 12 and disposed of. The vessel 1 can now be cleaned and refilled with a full liquid bag 11.

The vessel 1 according to the invention thus represents a hygienic reusable container for holding liquid bags 11, wherein the liquid bags 11 can be inserted and removed from the recess 4 of the vessel 1 in a simple manner.

.04.09.97

_ 7 - KEIL&SCHAAFHAUSEN

patent attorneys

List of reference symbols:

1 vessel

2 peripheral wall

3 bulged section

4 Recess

5 side edges

6 bent sections

7 Handle section

8 Distance section

9 Holding section

10 Boundary wall

11 fluid bags

12 Grommet

13 Plugs

14 handles

15 retaining rings

04.09.97

Claims (10)

_ 8 - KEIL&SCHAAFHAUSEN PATENTANWÄLTE Protection claims: 1. A vessel for holding a liquid bag (11), in particular for drinks, which has a spout (12) which can preferably be closed by a closure plug (13), on the circumference of which at least two spaced-apart retaining rings (15) are formed, characterized in that an upwardly open recess (4) is provided in a peripheral wall (2), the distance between the side edges (5) of the recess (4) essentially corresponding to the diameter of the spout (12) in the region between the retaining rings (15). 2. Vessel according to claim 1, characterized in that the side edges (5) of the recess (4) are reinforced such that their thickness corresponds substantially to the distance between the retaining rings (15) of the spout (12). 3. Vessel according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the side edges (5) of the recess (4) are formed by bent sections (6) of the peripheral wall (2). 4. Vessel according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the recess (4) is formed in a bulged portion (3) of the peripheral wall (2). 5. Vessel according to claim 4, characterized in that the bulged portion (3) of the peripheral wall (2) is flattened in its region around the recess (4). 6. Vessel according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a handle portion (7) is formed on the upper edge of the peripheral wall (2). 7. Vessel according to claim 6, characterized in that the handle portion (7) has a spacer portion (8) and a 04.09.97 E 49 G 1 1 &idigr;&idigr;*&Oacgr; > &iacgr;&idigr;*··&iacgr; · *·«&iacgr; ·* _ 9 - &Kgr;&egr;&igr;L& SCHAAFHAUSEN PATENT ATTORNEYS adjoining thereto, substantially V-shaped holding section (9), wherein the width of the spacer section (8) and of the holding section (9) changes continuously over the circumference of the peripheral wall (2) from a minimum width adjoining the bulged section (3) to a maximum width approximately opposite the recess (4). 8. Vessel according to claim 7, characterized in that the spacer section (8) and the holding section (9) are formed by bent sections of the peripheral wall (2). 9. Vessel according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the peripheral wall 2 in its upper region merges into an outer boundary wall (10) of the holding section (9). 10. Vessel according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it consists of plastic. 04.09.97