EP2961662B1

EP2961662B1 - Freezing mould bag

Info

Publication number: EP2961662B1
Application number: EP14757659.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Johannes Rasmussen
Original assignee: Silvex - Industria De Plasticos E Papeis SA
Current assignee: Silvex - Industria De Plasticos E Papeis SA
Priority date: 2013-03-01
Filing date: 2014-02-28
Publication date: 2017-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 2034-02-28
Also published as: HUE034992T2; WO2014131421A1; EP2961662A4; SI2961662T1; DK2961662T3; PT2961662T; PL2961662T3; RS56623B1; DK201370121A; HRP20171816T1; ES2649480T3; EP2961662A1; DK177848B1

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a freezing mould bag, including:

two sheet-like film pieces having substantially the same geometrical shape and defining an outer, substantially rectangular periphery with two sides, a bottom and a top;
a peripheral joint extending along the greater part of the outer periphery of the film pieces with the exception of a peripheral area at the top for establishing a filling opening of the bag, the peripheral joint joining the film pieces with each other substantially overlapping each other and delimiting an inner compartment of the interior of the bag, the inner compartment constituting at least one freezing mould compartment, preferably a plurality of interconnected freezing mould compartments which are delimited in relation to each other by separate joints of the film pieces;
a filling duct delimited by separate joints of the film pieces and extending from the inner compartment of the bag to the filling opening such that access from outside to the inner compartment of the bag is achieved via the filling opening;
two closing valve flaps connected by the film pieces at the filling opening and extending from the filling opening into the interior of the bag towards the inner compartment of the bag along the filling duct, the closing valve flaps being joined with each other and joined with the film pieces via the separate joints delimiting the filling duct such that two closing pockets that open towards the inner compartment of the bag are provided;
wherein the joints at the freezing mould compartment or freezing mould compartments at one or both sides of the filling duct are broken for establishing communication with an expansion chamber formed at one or both sides of the filling duct, and which is delimited by further joints the two film pieces; and
wherein at a position at each side of the filling duct and over the inner compartment of the bag there is formed a material weakening of the superposed film pieces for establishing a severing.

Background of the Invention

Freezing mould bags with the above mentioned design are known from several patent documents, including EP 0,574,496 B1 , EP 0,616,948 B1 , EP 0,825,122 B1 and EP 0,927,859 B1
Common to all these patents is that they are of a so-called self-closing type. By self-closing types is meant a freezing mould bag by which at the filling duct there is provided closing valve flaps that open towards the inner compartment of the bag, and which enable secure and reliable self-closing function when the freezing mould bag is turned upside down, i.e. at a position where the freezing mould bag is turned from a position with the top and the filling duct provided at the top facing upwards into a position where the filling duct is facing downwards. This occurs independently of the inner compartment of the freezing mould bag being completely or partially filled with liquid or water. Thus it is ensured that the liquid or water in the interior of the freezing mould bag will remain confined in the inner compartment of the freezing mould bag such that only a small amount of liquid is spilled from the freezing mould bag, an amount largely limited to the liquid confined in a small section of the filling duct of the freezing mould bag. By turning the freezing mould bag with the filling duct so as to face downwardly, it is avoided that liquid or water confined in the inner compartment of the freezing mould bag is spilled. This is effected by the two closing pockets, which are open towards the inner compartment of the bag, are filled with liquid or water such that they squeeze around the filling duct.
Moreover, some embodiments of the above described freezing mould bags will operated in that the filling duct is brought in contact with a water tap or similar which will conduct liquid and/or water under pressure into the filling duct and thereby into the inner compartment. By this filling under pressure, it is possible to establish a filling of the closing pockets such that they squeeze around the filling duct. By such embodiment of freezing mould bags it is therefore not necessary to perform the above described turning around of the freezing mould bag such that the filling duct is facing downwards in order to establish the closing action.
Freezing mould bags not filled by a pressurised filling unit can, for example, be filled by liquid running freely down into a funnel-shaped inlet opening in the filling duct. By these embodiments, the previously mentioned turning around of the bag will be required in order to establish the self-closing function.
By the present invention there is performed modification of the technique disclosed in the above mentioned patents. The present invention may therefore be said to constitute a modification which can be applied in connection with any of the embodiments described in the above mentioned patents, and which include one or more expansion chambers. Also, any of the embodiments shown in the mentioned patents and which are modified by including one or more expansion chambers are included by the present invention as well when modified according to the changes described hereinafter.
Furthermore, so-called knot-tie bags are known. These are used as an alternative to the self-closing bags.
In knot tie bags, at each their side of the filling duct at a position above the inner compartment of the freezing mould bag there will be provided a material weakening of the superposed film pieces. Easy severing can hereby be established such that tongues are formed by two superposed film pieces and which can be tied and form a knot that closes the filling duct.
Even if knot bags also can be used for bags where filling is performed under pressure, the frequent use of these will be bags where filling occurs by liquid or water being poured down through the filling duct.
The knot tie bags are therefore typically used for liquids that are not filled under pressure, and therefore there is no need for any expansion chamber or chambers. In that connection it is noted that the expansion chamber or chambers are typically used in connection with freezing mould bags that are filled under pressure. When forming a material weakening at a position above the inner compartment, the material weakening will typically be disposed in parallel with and immediately adjacent to the peripheral joint at the top of the freezing mould bag. This means that in such bags there is no possibility of forming expansion chambers as communication cannot be established with a freezing mould compartment or compartments located within the peripheral joint. If such a connection was established between an expansion chamber and the freezing mould compartments, the liquid would simply flow out when tearing for forming the tongues to be used for forming a knot closing the filling duct.
For many years the industry has operated with two different types of bags, namely the knot tie bags which cannot be provided with expansion chambers, and the self-closing bags which are filled under pressure and which are provided with expansion chambers disposed at one or both sides of the filling duct, thereby causing that a material weakening of the superposed film pieces outside the peripheral joint cannot be established.
In practice, it has appeared that some users have limited faith in the function of the self-closing bag even though it has appeared in practice that the closing valve flaps in the freezing mould bag fulfil requirements of spilling a minimal amount of water or liquid, or even completely avoiding spilling water or liquid, and on the other hand enable a rapid and efficient filling of the filling mould bag and the closing pockets.
Therefore, there has been a desire for a freezing mould bag which can provide the advantages of the self-closing bag as well as provide the extra security of the knot tie bags desired by some users.
An example of a bag described in the introduction is known from EP 0927859 A2 . In this document is disclosed a bag that may provide the advantages of the self-closing bag and the knot tie bag as it is indicated that the inner pressure can be increased when the knot tie is established. There is no explanation as to how such a bag is designed.

Object of the Invention

It is thus the object of the present invention to indicate a freezing mould bag of the type mentioned in the introduction which in a secure and reliable way can produce a self-closing function, either when the freezing mould bag is turned upside down or when the freezing mould bag is filled under pressure, and which at the same time enables providing tongues such that the freezing mould bag also can be closed with a knot such as it is known from knot tie bags.
The present invention is therefore based on the realisation that outside the peripheral joint at the top of the bag there may be formed one or two expansion chambers at the side of the filling duct. This is effected by forming a material weakening which runs from the side edge at an angle relative to the peripheral joint delimiting the freezing mould compartment located at the top of the bag. Hereby is formed an expansion chamber which popularly speaking has a triangular shape as it is formed by joints of the two film pieces running along the material weakening, the side edges and the peripheral joints at the freezing mould compartment or compartments at the top of the bag. It is thus possible to establish a penetration of the joints at the freezing mould compartment or compartments at one or both sides of the filling duct such that communication to the expansion chamber or chambers is established.
The film material located at each their side of the filling duct at a position over the material weakenings can be released from the remaining part of the film pieces in order to form tongues which can be used for forming a knot around the filling duct.
The present invention particularly finds application in so-called dot-bags where the separate joints between the freezing mould compartments are constituted by a number of individual joints. By these dot-bags there will be a risk that individual joints are broken when the bag is filled under pressure. Therefore, it will be of particular importance if an expansion compartment is provided in this type of bags as the risk of breaking the individual joints during filling or freezing of the liquid or water situated in the freezing mould compartments is obviated hereby. The so-called dot-bags are described in the above mentioned EP patent 0,927,859 B1 . In the description of this patent, the special operation of the individual joints is explained. In short, the advantages are based on the fact that by formation of ice cubes or frozen bodies in the individual freezing mould compartments, it is easy to separate these frozen bodies. This is effected in that the individual joints are formed with such jointing strength and a limited extension in area so that the joint, when the film pieces are subjected to a separating force, will not be broken but will produce a severing force or perforation in one of the film pieces along the individual joint periphery in question.
Alternatively, it will also be possible to provide the individual joints in the form of weak weldings or bonds which do not provide for tearing up of the joints themselves when applied a separation force. The so-called dot-bags can also be of the kind described in EP patent 0,248,817 B1 .

Description of the Invention

According to the present invention, this is achieved by a freezing mould bag of the kind mentioned in the introduction which is peculiar in that the material weakenings of the superposed film pieces for establishing a severing runs from the side edge at an angle relative to a joint delimiting the adjoining freezing mould compartment or compartments to a position near the mouth of the filling duct in the inner compartment, in that along the filling duct there is left an unbroken joint whereby the expansion chamber or chambers are formed in the areas between the material weakening, the side edges and the joints at the freezing mould compartment or compartments.
The freezing mould bag can thus be used by users either as a self-closing bag which is filled with water from a tap under pressure or as a knot bag which is filled with liquids poured into the freezing mould bag without pressure, as e.g. cream or juice.
By a bag according to the invention, the expansion chambers will be disposed between the material weakening and the inner compartment. The tongues for forming the knot will thus ensure that the expansion chambers can have a certain size so that they provide a real expansion possibility at freezing and that the filling duct is blocked at a position close to its mouth for the inner compartment.
In a freezing mould bag according to the invention it is preferred that the individual joints between the freezing mould compartments establish a connection between the film pieces with such jointing strength and such a limited extent in area so that the individual joints when the film pieces are subjected to a separation force will not be broken but will at least produce a severing or perforation in the film pieces along periphery of the joint in question.
By providing the individual joints in this way, the tearing through or perforation of the film pieces at the periphery of the joints will enable the partial tearing apart or tearing through and easy opening of the freezing mould bag when the latter is to be emptied of frozen ice lumps or other frozen liquid bodies.
In that connection it is also noted that tearing through or perforation of the film pieces is not dependent on specific orientation of the applied force. By the invention it is therefore possible that after freezing of water or liquid in the freezing mould compartment a distending of the film pieces is established such that a simple bending of the freezing mould bag as such can produce the required tearing or perforation of one of the film pieces of the freezing mould bag, as the distended film pieces produce a considerable tension in the film pieces so that tearing through or perforation is produced.
Freezing mould bags of this embodiment will furthermore provide the same advantages as described in EP 0,927,859 B1 .
According to a further embodiment, the invention is peculiar in that the material weakening of the superposed film pieces is constituted by perforations extending through the superposed sheet-formed film pieces.
When the material weakness is formed by perforations, a particularly certain positioning of the severing is achieved. Thus there will be no risk that a tearing up will occur which will also pass into the joints delimiting expansion chambers and/or the filling duct by severing of the film pieces for establishing the tongues for the formation of the knot tie closure.
According to a further embodiment, the invention is peculiar in that the filling duct includes a first and a second segment, wherein the first segment is provided immediately after the filling opening, and the second segment connects the first segment with the freezing mould compartment or compartments, the first segment having a substantially tapering shape towards the freezing mould compartment or compartments, forming a constriction at the transition to the second segment, and in that the closing valve flaps extend from the filing opening past the constriction at the transition.
By this special embodiment of the filling duct in a first and a second segment there is achieved a freezing mould bag where the two segments of the filling duct establish a secure closing of the closing flaps in the freezing mould bag which are pressed against each other due to the film pieces, where the tension is provided in the specific weld seams producing a constriction of the filling duct of the freezing mould bag. Advantages of this special embodiment are described in the above EP patent EP 0,825,122 .
According to a further embodiment, the invention is peculiar in that the mentioned joints are all constituted by bondings or preferably weldings.
The joints will preferably be constituted by weldings as various forms of strength can be established hereby, optionally enabling a tearing up of the film pieces or breaking of the joints. Alternatively, bondings can be used. Such bondings can also have a severing strength enabling a tearing apart or perforation of the film pieces, or the bondings may alternatively be of a pealable type where it is the joint/bonding itself which is broken without establishing a tearing apart or perforation of the film pieces.
According to a further embodiment, the invention is peculiar in that the film pieces are made of polyethylene, preferably LDPE or HDPE, or other bondable or weldable film material, preferably plastic or polymeric materials, or aluminium film material, or combinations of such film materials.
By the making of the freezing mould bag it is thus possible to use any bondable or weldable film material. However, it is preferred to use polyethylene when making the film pieces.
According to a further embodiment, the invention is peculiar in that the number of freezing mould compartments in the inner compartment of the freezing mould compartment is greater than 2 and up to 48, preferably 24.
In alternative embodiments, the freezing mould bag can thus be made with a large or a small number of freezing mould compartments. In some embodiments, the freezing mould bag can have a very limited number of individual freezing mould compartments, e.g. 2, 3 or 4 freezing mould compartments. For a given size of the two film pieces used for making the freezing mould bag there will hereby be achieved relatively large frozen bodies or ice cubes or ice lumps for industrial use or consumer use. Presently, embodiments of the freezing mould bag according to the invention are preferred to have a relatively large number of freezing mould compartments and thereby a greater number of ice cubes/frozen bodies for a given size of the film pieces used for making the freezing mould bag. There may thus be a number of 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 30, 36 or 48 freezing mould compartments. Other numbers, including uneven numbers of freezing compartments, as e.g. 15 and 21, are possible as well.
According to a further embodiment, the invention is peculiar in that the number of individual joints delimiting two adjoining freezing mould compartments in relation to each other is an even number.
Even though it is preferred that the number of individual joints constitute an even number, it will also be possible to use an uneven number of individual joints for delimitations of adjoining freezing mould compartments.
According to a further embodiment, the invention is peculiar in that outside the filling duct there is provided a material weakening of at least one of the two superposed film pieces for indicating tearing up of the freezing mould bag and for severing.
By such a material weakening of one of the two superposed film pieces there will be achieved a particularly simple indication and easy tearing up of the freezing mould bag at a position at the top of the latter. Therefore, the risk that the film pieces of the freezing mould bag are torn up across the entire area of the bag side will not exist. This will facilitate storage of possible unused ice lumps or frozen bodies in the bag if it is only emptied partially.
The freezing mould bag according to the present invention can be made of film pieces with arbitrary sheet-form, including non-rectangular film pieces as e.g. elliptical, polygonal or triangular film pieces. However, it is preferred that the two sheet-formed film pieces are largely rectangular.
In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an accompanying drawing showing an example of an embodiment of a freezing mould bag. However, it will be within the scope of the present invention that other embodiments appearing in the above mentioned patents also can be modified in a way as explained in connection with the single schematic embodiment which is elaborated hereinafter. The shown embodiment is thus only to be shown as one example of the design that enables making a freezing mould bag which can be said to be a combined bag, uniting the self-closing bag and the knot tie bag.

Description of the Drawing

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawing where:

Fig. 1: shows schematically an embodiment of a freezing mould bag according to prior art;
Fig. 2: shows a schematic drawing of an embodiment of a freezing mould bag according to the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

First, it is noted that Fig. 1 includes two figures, namely Fig. la showing a side view of a bag according to prior art, and Fig. 1b showing a cross-section through an upper part of the freezing mould bag shown in Fig. 1a.
In Figs. 1a and 1b are shown schematically a first, presently preferred embodiment of a freezing mould bag according to the invention, in a plan view and in section, respectively. The freezing mould bag as such is indicated by the reference number 10.
The freezing mould bag 10 is composed of two uniform plastic films, preferably LD-polyethylene films with a thickness of 25µm, or alternatively HD-polyethylene films with a thickness of 18µm, the films indicated by the reference numbers 12 and 14. Each of the films 12 and 14 have a bent part indicated by the reference numbers 16 and 18, respectively, projecting inwardly into the interior of the freezing mould bag 10 and forming exposed inner edges 17 and 19, respectively. The films 12 and 14 have substantially rectangular shape and are disposed overlapping each other with the bent parts 16 and 18 as mentioned above projecting inwardly into the interior of the freezing mould bag 10, as the films 12 and 14 are joined via two side weldings 20, a bottom welding 21 and two top weldings 21a and 21b which together form an annular, continuous welding extending along the periphery of the films 12 and 14 with the exception of a line segment defining an inlet opening for the interior of the freezing mould bag between the two top weldings 21a and 21b. The interior of the freezing mould bag 10, i.e. the area within the mentioned annular, continuous welding formed by the two side weldings 20, the bottom welding 21 and the two top weldings 21a and 21b, can be regarded as including two parts, an inlet part disposed at the upper end of the freezing mould bag and an inner partitioned freezing mould compartment.
It is here to be mentioned that terms such as "upwards", "downwards", "upper", "lower", "horizontal", "vertical" etc., referring to an orientation of the freezing mould bag relative to vertical direction determined by the force of gravity, are to be regarded as expressions only serving to describe the normal and general orientation of the freezing mould bag when used, particularly when filled with water, as a greater or lesser part of the freezing mould bag of course can be bent relative to a specific direction, such as vertical, or the freezing mould bag as a whole can be held obliquely relative to a specific direction, as for example in relation to the vertical direction.
The inlet part disposed at the upper end of the freezing mould bag is defined by two symmetrically mirrored welding sets defining a filling duct which lead from the above mentioned inlet opening defined between the two top weldings 21 a and 21b and into the inner freezing mould compartment of the freezing mould bag 10. The filling duct is mainly designed according to the technical teaching and technical principles defined in EP patent 0,574,496 and in the published EP application 0,616,448 . The filling duct is more specifically defined by two weldings 30 converging from the filling opening towards the inner freezing mould compartment of the freezing mould bag, the weldings 30 continuing at a constriction in the filling duct into two symmetrically disposed, largely semi-circular weldings 32 as the transition between the weldings 30 and 32 form the said constriction in the filling duct, the constriction being further limited by two parallel rectilinear weldings 34. The lower ends of the semi-circular weldings 32 are continued into two outwardly sloping and diverging weldings 27 connected with the two side weldings 20, as these two outwardly inclining and diverging weldings 27 are broken for producing two upwardly directed ducts disposed symmetrically about the filling duct, the upwardly directed ducts each defined by two parallel weldings 36 and 37 and continuing into respective expansion chambers 40 which are delimited by a largely elliptically shaped welding 38 which is continued into an associated side welding 20 and disposed behind a respective rectilinear welding 34.
The mutually converging weldings 30 form a first segment of the filling duct whereas the semi-circular weldings 32 form a second segment of the filling duct. As it appears from Fig. 1a, the bent parts 16 and 18 of the films 12 and 14 extend down to a position immediately opposite the middle of the second segment defined by the semi-circular weldings 32, and simultaneously to a position at the transition between the ducts defined by the weldings 36 and 37 and the interior of the expansion chambers 40 defined by the elliptical weldings 38. It is to be noted that other positions of the lower edges 17 and 19 of the bent parts 16 and 18, respectively, relative to the semi-circular weldings are possible as well, e.g. as described and shown in the above mentioned EP patent and the above mentioned published EP application. Moreover, it is to be noted that the bent parts 16 and 18 of the films and 12 and 14, respectively, can be die-cut such that the bent film material is only present in the filling duct itself and immediately outside the latter, but cut off at the sides of the filling duct where instead of the weldings 36 and 37 and the expansion chambers 40 there may consequently be designed additional freezing mould compartments according to the teaching of the invention, such as will be described below.
The said inner partitioned freezing mould compartment is, as it appears on Fig. 1a, further divided into three subcompartments which in the following will be denoted the upper, the middle and the lower subcompartment, as two linear weldings 26 extend inwardly towards the centre line of the freezing mould bag from each of the two side weldings 20. These linear weldings 26, four in total, have a length constituting less than half of the inner free width between the side weldings 20 such that between each pair of aligned linear weldings 26 there is formed an opening between the adjacent subcompartments in order to allow flow of water from the upper subcompartment, further down into the middle subcompartment and further down into the lower subcompartment.
The individual subcompartments, i.e. the above mentioned three subcompartments, are furthermore divided into eight freezing mould compartments each by means of spot weldings, in that in each of the three subcompartments there are provided four sets of horizontal spot weldings and three double sets of vertical spot weldings. In this connection, the expression horizontal spot weldings is to be understood as an expression that does not refer to individual spot weldings being horizontal as spot weldings have circular or approximately circular configuration, but instead that the line or curve on which the spot weldings are placed extends horizontally or mainly horizontally. Correspondingly, the expression vertical spot weldings is to be understood such that the spot weldings concerned are disposed on a curve, preferably a line extending vertically or approximately vertically. The three double sets of vertical spot weldings and the four sets of horizontal spot weldings in each subcompartment meet in areas that constitute connecting areas between the freezing mould compartments, in which connecting areas no weldings connecting the two films 12 and 14 with each other are provided.
The spot weldings in the four sets of horizontal spot weldings and correspondingly the spot weldings in the three double sets of vertical spot weldings bordering the connecting areas are designed with greater extent than the other spot weldings. The four sets of horizontal spot weldings thus include five spot weldings each indicated by the reference number 22, the spot weldings typically being of the size 0.1 - 5 mm, such as 0.5 - 1 mm, e.g. 0.6 - 0.9 mm, preferably about 0.9 mm, as the two sets of horizontal spot weldings bordering the side weldings 20 each include a sixth spot welding 22. These two sets of spot weldings bordering the side weldings 20 each include two spot weldings indicated by the reference number 23, which spot weldings have a greater diameter compared with the spot weldings 22, typically a diameter of more than 0.5 mm, such as more than 1 mm, e.g. a diameter of 1 - 1.5 mm, e.g. a diameter of 1.1 - 1.3 mm, preferably a diameter of 1.1 mm. The two middle sets of horizontal spot weldings include, as it appears from the description above, five spot weldings 22 each and two spot weldings 23 each. The three double sets of vertical spot weldings each include, corresponding to the two middle sets of horizontal spot weldings, five spot weldings 24 corresponding to the spot weldings 22 and two spot weldings 25 corresponding to the spot weldings 23.
The above described first preferred embodiment of the freezing mould bag 10 is shown in Fig. la in a flat condition where the two films 12 and 14 are disposed lying planely on each other, as the inner freezing mould compartment of the freezing mould bag and correspondingly the filling duct and the expansion chambers can be partly filled with air but are shown in unfilled condition, i.e. a condition in which no water has yet been filled into the interior of the bag.
In Fig. 1b, the upper part of the freezing mould bag 10 is shown in section on the line I-I in Fig. 1a, showing the two films 12 and 14, the two bent parts 16 and 18 of the films, and the lower edges 17 and 19 of the bent film parts 16 and 18. In Fig. 1b is further shown the seven weldings in total of the upper vertical spot welding set, including two spot weldings 25 and five spot weldings 24 disposed between these two spot weldings 25.
The difference in size between the spot weldings 22 and 23 and corresponding spot weldings 24 and 25 depends on a desire for spot weldings which do not have any immediately neighbouring spot weldings, e.g. the spot weldings 23 and 25, not being torn apart during filling of water and freezing of the water, as it is to be remembered that water by being cooled below 4°C expands and continues to expand during freezing, whereby a given amount of liquid filling the interior of the freezing mould bag during freezing will expand, thereby exerting a greater pressure on the interior of the bag, thereby causing greater tension in the weldings delimiting the interior of the freezing mould bag and dividing the interior of the freezing mould bag into individual freezing mould compartments.
Fig. 2 shows a schematic drawing of a freezing mould bag 110 according to the present invention.
Constructional details which this freezing mould bag 110 has in common with prior art are provided the same reference numbers and will therefore not be explained in detail. In the following, only the differences separating the freezing mould bag according to the invention from a freezing mould bag according to prior art will be in focus.
In this freezing mould bag there are established joints in the form of weldings of the two film pieces 12, 14. The weldings 27 at the freezing mould compartments 55 formed at the top of the freezing mould bag are rectilinear weldings provided with penetrations 50. The penetrations 50 establish communication with the expansion chambers 40 at each their side of the filling duct 56. The expansion chambers 40 are, besides the weldings 27, delimited by weldings 51 that run at an angle relative to the weldings 27 and a part of the weldings 20 at the side edges of the bag.
At a position above the additional welding 51 there are provided material weakenings 52 that run from the side edge 57 of the bag at an angle 53 relative to the weldings 27 which delimit the adjacent freezing mould compartments 55. The material weakening 52 runs to a position 58 near the mouth 59 of the filling duct 56 in the inner compartment 60 of the bag. Along the mouth of the filling duct and at each side there will be provided an unbroken welding 54. The expansion chambers 40 are thus formed in areas between the material weakenings 52, the side edges 57 and the weldings 27.
The material weakenings 52 enable easy severing of the superposed film pieces 12, 14. Tongues are hereby formed above the expansion chambers 40 to be used for forming a knot around the duct 56 such that the latter can be closed by a knot tie instead of being closed by means of a closing valve.
The material weakenings can be provided as perforations or indentations in the superposed film pieces.

Claims

A freezing mould bag (110) including:
two sheet-like film pieces (12, 14) having substantially the same geometrical shape and defining an outer, substantially rectangular periphery with two sides, a bottom and a top;

a peripheral joint (20, 21, 21a, 21b) extending along the greater part of the outer periphery of the film pieces with the exception of a peripheral area at the top for establishing a filling opening of the bag, the peripheral joint joining the film pieces with each other substantially overlapping each other and delimiting an inner compartment (60) of the interior of the bag, the inner compartment constituting at least one freezing mould compartment, preferably a plurality of interconnected freezing mould compartments which are delimited in relation to each other by separate joints (22, 23, 24, 25) of the film pieces;

a filling duct (56) delimited by separate joints (30, 32) of the film pieces and extending from the inner compartment (60) of the bag to the filling opening such that access from outside to the inner compartment (60) of the bag is achieved via the filling opening (56);

two closing valve flaps (16, 18) connected by the film pieces (12, 14) at the filling opening and extending from the filling opening into the interior of the bag towards the inner compartment of the bag along the filling duct (56), the closing valve flaps being joined with each other and joined with the film pieces via the separate joints (30, 32) delimiting the filling duct such that two closing pockets that open towards the inner compartment of the bag are provided;

wherein the joints (27) at the freezing mould compartment (55) or freezing mould compartments (55) at one or both sides of the filling duct (56) are broken for establishing communication (50) with an expansion chamber (40) formed at one or both sides of the filling duct (56), and which is delimited by further joints (51) of the two film pieces (12, 14); and

wherein at a position at each side of the filling duct and over the inner compartment of the bag there is formed a material weakening (52) of the superposed film pieces for establishing a severing;

characterised in that

the material weakenings (52) of the superposed film pieces (12, 14) for establishing a severing runs from the side edge at an angle (53) relative to a joint (27) delimiting the adjoining freezing mould compartment or compartments (55) to a position near the mouth (59) of the filling duct (56) in the inner compartment (60), in that along the filling duct there is left an unbroken joint (54) whereby the expansion chamber or chambers (40) are formed in the areas between the material weakening (52), the side edges (57) and the joints (27) at the freezing mould compartment or compartments (55).
Freezing mould bag according to claim 1, characterised in that the separate joints (22, 23, 24, 25) between the freezing mould compartments (55) are constituted by a number of individual joints.
Freezing mould bag according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the material weakening (52) of the superposed film pieces is constituted by perforations extending through the superposed sheet-formed film pieces (12, 14).
Freezing mould bag according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the filling duct (56) includes a first and a second segment, wherein the first segment is provided immediately after the filling opening, and the second segment connects the first segment with the freezing mould compartment or compartments (55), the first segment having a substantially tapering shape towards the freezing mould compartment or compartments, forming a constriction at the transition to the second segment, and in that the closing valve flaps (16, 18) extend from the filing opening past the constriction at the transition.
Freezing mould bag according to any preceding claim, characterised in that all the joints are constituted by bondings or preferably weldings.
Freezing mould bag according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the film pieces (12, 14) are made of polyethylene, preferably LDPE or HDPE, or other bondable or weldable film material, preferably plastic or polymeric materials, or aluminium film material, or combinations of such film materials.
Freezing mould bag according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the number of freezing mould compartments (55) in the inner compartment (60) of the freezing mould compartment is greater than 2 and up to 48, preferably 24.
Freezing mould bag according to any of claims 2-7, characterised in that the number of individual joints (22, 23, 24, 25) delimiting two adjoining freezing mould compartments (55) in relation to each other is an even number.
Freezing mould bag according to any preceding claim, characterised in that outside the filling duct (56) there is provided a material weakening of at least one of the two superposed film pieces for indicating tearing up of the freezing mould bag and for severing.