Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
  • B65D75/52—Details
  • B65D75/58—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture
  • B65D75/5861—Spouts
  • B65D75/5872—Non-integral spouts
  • B65D75/5877—Non-integral spouts connected to a planar surface of the package wall
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D33/00—Details of, or accessories for, sacks or bags
  • B65D33/16—End- or aperture-closing arrangements or devices
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
  • B67D1/08—Details
  • B67D1/0801—Details of beverage containers, e.g. casks, kegs
  • B67D2001/0827—Bags in box
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D3/00—Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes
  • B67D3/0058—Details
  • B67D3/0061—Details of liquid containers, e.g. filling, emptying, closing or opening means
  • B67D3/0067—Details of liquid containers, e.g. filling, emptying, closing or opening means relating to shape or materials, e.g. bag-in-box packages [BIB], pouches

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a fitting for containers. More particularly, it relates to a flexible fitting capable of being pinched closed with little or no dead volume.
• Bag style flexible containers are used in a variety of industries today including food, beverage, medical, chemical and the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries. They offer a number of advantages over more conventional rigid containers for processing and storage of products and intermediates in that they are single use, thereby eliminating the need for cleaning, allow for a more flexible and changeable production line in that they can be connected to different components as needed unlike traditional dedicated stainless steel lines and can be presterilized such as with radiation (gamma or beta) or gases such as ethylene oxide (ETO).
• radiation gamma or beta
• ETO ethylene oxide
• the connections between containers are typically done with a rigid plastic barb fitting 2 as shown in Figure 1.
• a rigid plastic barb fitting 2 as shown in Figure 1.
• These are generally molded of plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene and are designed to be rigid and inflexible so as to support the functions described below.
• the fitting 2 has a flange 4 adjacent the bag 12, a substantially straight neck portion 6 and a barb portion 8 which is furthest from the flange.
• a through bore 5 runs through the fitting 2 from the flange to the barb 8.
• the fitting 2 is attached to an opening 10 of the bag 12, generally by heat sealing, sonic welding or adhesives such that the opening of the 10 of the bag 12 is in fluid communication with the bore 5 of the fitting 2 which in turn is in fluid communication with the bore 16 of a tubing 14.
• the tubing 14 is slipped over the barb 8 and rests on at least a portion of the neck 6 and is generally secured to the fitting 2 by a device such as a tie wrap 20 to ensure that it doesn't inadvertently slip off such as due to pressure within the system.
• the bag 12 and fitting 2 are selectively closed off from the rest of the system generally by a device such as a pinch valve 18 or a clamp (not shown) which may be manually or automatically controlled.
• This invention reduces or eliminates the dead space in the fitting and tubing before the valve by using a flexible elastic fitting that can accommodate a pinch valve or a clamp or the like closer to the flange portion of the fitting.
• One aspect of the present invention is to provide a fitting for a disposable plastic container having a flange portion capable of being sealed in a liquid tight manner to an opening in the bag and a neck portion extending outwardly from the flange portion and the opening of the bag and the fitting being formed of a flexible compressible, resilient plastic material.
• a device such as a pinch valve or clamp can be used on the fitting to compress the fitting to seal off the container.
• a further embodiment of the present invention is to provide the neck with either a tubular end portion or a hose barb.
• An additional embodiment is to provide a fitting formed of a thermoplastic elastomer, a thermoset such as a urethane or a rubber, natural or synthetic.
• Another embodiment of the present invention is to provide a flexible disposable container comprising a closed plastic bag having at least one port, at least one fitting formed of a flange portion sealed in a liquid tight manner to the at least one opening in the bag and a neck portion extending outwardly from the flange portion and the opening of the bag, the fitting being formed of a flexible compressible, resilient plastic material and a device capable of compressing the neck portion of the fitting so as to seal it off from the bag.
• a further embodiment of the present invention is to provide the neck with either a tubular end portion or a hose barb.
• An additional embodiment is to provide a fitting formed of a thermoplastic elastomer, a thermoset such as a urethane or a rubber, natural or synthetic.
• Another embodiment of the present invention is to provide a neck portion in the form of a tubular extension with a bore running through the flange and neck portions and further comprising a connector having a first end with a hose barb and a second end with a hose barb and a planar portion between the two barb portions, the neck portion of the fitting farthest from the flange portion having the first barb of the connector and a planar portion of the connector attached to it in a liquid tight manner and a tubing attached to the second barb of the connector and a planar portion of the connector in a liquid tight manner.
• An additional embodiment of the present invention is to provide a rigid insert at the portion of the fitting furthest from the bag.
• Another embodiment of the present invention is to provide a rigid insert at the portion of the fitting furthest from the bag where the rigid insert is made of metal or plastic.
• a further embodiment of the present invention is to provide a rigid insert at the portion of the fitting furthest from the bag wherein the insert is either molded into that portion or attached to a surface (inner or outer) of that portion of the fitting.
• a further embodiment of the present invention is to provide a device for attaching the end of the neck to the tubing via tie wraps.
• Figure 1 shows a fitting assembled to a bag and tubing with a pinch valve as is known in the prior art in cross-sectional view.
• Figure 2 shows a fitting assembled to a bag and tubing with a pinch valve according a first embodiment of the present invention in cross-sectional view.
• Figure 3 shows a fitting assembled to a bag and tubing with a pinch valve according a second embodiment of the present invention in cross-sectional view.
• Figure 4 shows a fitting assembled to a bag and tubing with a pinch valve according Figure 3 in the closed positbn in cross-sectionai view.
• Figure 5 shows a fitting assembled to a bag and tubing with a pinch valve according another embodiment of the present invention in cross-sectional view.
• Figure 6 shows a fitting assembled to a bag and tubing with a pinch valve according another embodiment of the present invention in cross-sectional view.
• Figure 7 shows a fitting assembled to a bag and tubing with a pinch valve according a further embodiment of the present invention in cross-sectional view.
• Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view of an alternative insert of Figure 6.
• Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional view of an alternative insert of Figure 7.
• Figure 10 shows a cross-sectional view of an alternative insert of the present invention.
• Figure 11 shows a cross-sectional view of an alternative insert of the present invention.
• Figure 12 shows a cross-sectional view of an alternative insert of the present invention.
• FIG 2 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
• the fitting 30 of the present invention is made from a flexible compressible, resilient plastic material.
• the fitting 30 is made from a plastic material that is capable of being bonded to the bag 12 in the same manner as is done with the traditional rigid plastic fittings of Figure 1.
• the fitting may be formed of another material and retained in aliquid tight sealed manner to the bag by other means such as adhesives or mechanical means such as a threaded portion and a nut.
• the pinch valve 18 is located on the neck 6 of the fitting between the bag 12 and the barb portion 8.
• the fitting has a flange 4 which is sealed to the bag 12.
• the fitting 30 has a flange 4 thai is in the interior of the bag 12. It can equally be attached to the outer surface of the bag 12 if desired.
• the neck 6 is formed as a tubular portion which extends outward from the bag 12 and flange 4.
• a hose connector 7 is formed with two barbs 7A and B each formed at opposite ends of the connector 7 with a planar portion 9 in between the barbs 7A and 8.
• the first end of the tube or hose connector 7 is inserted into the end of the neck 6 farthest from the flange 4 and a second hose 14 is attached to the other end of the connector 7 over barb 7B.
• a hose attachment device 20 such as a tie wrap is used on the neck 6 of the fitting 30 and the hose or tube 14 to secure them together in a liquid tight manner.
• FIG 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
• the fitting 30 of the present invention is made from a flexible compressible, resilient plastic material.
• the fitting 30 is made from a plastic material that is capable of being bonded to the bag 12 in the same manner as is done with the traditional rigid plastic fittings of Figure 1.
• the pinch valve 18 is located on the neck 6 of the fitting 30 between the bag 12 and the hose barb 8.
• the pinch valve 18 can be actuated adjacent the opening 10 in the bag over the fitting 30 so as to reduce or eliminate the dead space volume present in the prior art.
• the fitting materials include but are not limited to any elastomeric material such as thermoplastic elastomers, thermosets such as urethanes, especially closed cell foamed urethane, and rubber, both natural and synthetic.
• they are thermoplastic elastomers such thermoplastic polyolefin and elastomeric alloys containing polyolefins so as to allow for the fitting to be heat bonded to the bag material directly.
• One such preferred material is a thermoplastic elastomer Versaflex® CL E85, a styrene block co-polymer blended with polyethylene polymer system available from GLS Corporation.
• Another materials would be RTP 2899 X 106530A, a thermoplastic poiyolefin available from RTP Company.
• a further material is Santoprene® elastomers available from Advanced Elastomer Systems of Akron, Ohio.
• the fitting may be made from another elastomeric material provided that a suitable means for attachment can be provided.
• a suitable means for attachment can be provided.
• Figure 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
• a rigid insert 32 is overmoided or insert molded Into the fitting 30 so that a portion of the neck 6 downstream of where the valve 18 is and the barb contain the insert 32. This provides a more traditional fitting for the tubing and helps to ensure that it is secured to the fitting and resists the normal actions that might otherwise dislodge it.
• the rigid insert 32 may be formed of metal such as aluminum, brass or stainless steel or it may be formed of a rigid plastic such as polyethylene or polypropylene or the like.
• Figure 6 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
• a rigid insert 34 is fit over a portion of the exterior and interior of the fitting 30 so that a portion of the neck 6 downstream of where the valve 18 is and the barb contain the insert 34.
• This provides a more traditional fitting for the tubing and helps to ensure that it is secured to the fitting and resists the normal actions that might otherwise dislodge it.
• the insert 34 has a portion 35 that fits under the barb of the fitting to help retain it in place.
• This insert 34 can be press fit into the fitting 30 and retained by frictional forces.
• the rigid insert 34 may be formed of metal such as aluminum, brass or stainless steel or it may be formed of a rigid plastic such as polyethylene or polypropylene or the like,
• Figure 7 shows a further embodiment of the present invention.
• a rigid insert 36 is fit into the bore 5 of the fitting 30 so that a portion of the neck 6 downstream of where the valve is and the barb contain the insert 36.
• the insert 36 has a flange portion 38 that rests against the outer surface of the barb portion adjacent the point at which the bore 5 exits the fitting 30 so as to prevent it from being inserted too far into the fitting 30 and interfering with the valve 18.
• This insert 36 can be press fit into the fitting and retained by friction fitting.
• it may have one or more retention devices such as barbs 40 as shown in Figure 9 or ridges and the like which are angled toward the end of the fitting farthest from the flange to prevent its removal once inserted.
• the rigid insert 36 may be formed of metal such as aluminum, brass or stainless steel or it may be formed of a rigid plastic such as polyethylene or polypropylene or the like.
• Figures 8 and 9 show a close up the alternative inserts 34 and 36 containing a mechanical retention means such as a barb 40.
• Figure 10 shows another embodiment of the present invention.
• a rigid insert 102 is overmolded or insert molded into the fitting 100 so that a portion of the neck 104 downstream of where the valve will be located contains the insert 102.
• the portion of the neck 104 is tubular in design rather than a barbed fitting as in the embodiment of Figure 5.
• the rigid insert 102 like its counterparts above in Figure 6 may be formed of metal such as aluminum, brass or stainless steel or it may be formed of a rigid plastic such as polyethylene or polypropylene or the like.
• Figures 11 and 12 show a tubular ended fitting similar to that of Figure 10 with a rigid insert 102 inserted into or placed over the portion of the neck 104 in a manner similar to that taught in the embodiments of Figures 6 - 9.
• the insert 102 has a barbed end portion 106.
• the present invention provides a fitting that allows one to clamp off the fitting closer to the opening of the bag so as to reduce or eliminate any dead space.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)
• Bag Frames (AREA)
• Check Valves (AREA)
• Rigid Pipes And Flexible Pipes (AREA)
• Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)
• Clamps And Clips (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=44063994

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Families Citing this family (3)

Citations (1)

Family Cites Families (25)

• 2011
  • 2011-03-24 KR KR1020127023494A patent/KR101457447B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2011-03-24 SG SG2013043427A patent/SG191647A1/en unknown
  • 2011-03-24 SG SG2012063921A patent/SG183534A1/en unknown
  • 2011-03-24 US US13/070,842 patent/US20110235948A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2011-03-24 EP EP11712735A patent/EP2552798A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2011-03-24 JP JP2013501485A patent/JP2013523538A/ja active Pending
  • 2011-03-24 WO PCT/US2011/029800 patent/WO2011119837A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2011-03-24 CN CN201180016076.8A patent/CN102844243B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2011-03-24 CN CN201510015543.5A patent/CN104743222A/zh active Pending

Patent Citations (1)

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