GB2201394A

GB2201394A - Flexible container for liquids

Info

Publication number: GB2201394A
Application number: GB08615932A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Charles Gill
Original assignee: Nomix Manufacturing Co Ltd
Current assignee: Nomix Manufacturing Co Ltd
Priority date: 1986-06-30
Filing date: 1986-06-30
Publication date: 1988-09-01
Also published as: JPS6333258A; ZA874633B; NO872719L; GB8615932D0; DK332887A; EP0251757A2; EP0251757A3; DK332887D0; PT85195A; AU7473487A; NO872719D0; BR8703335A

Abstract

A container e.g. bag, for liquid, such as herbicide, comprises a liquid-impermeable wall comprising two flexible skins (2, 4) of plastics material. The skins (2, 4) are held apart from each other by a spacer structure (6), which may comprise a flexible plastics sheet bonded to skins (2, 4) at regions (12, 10) to define air-filled bubbles (15). Alternatively, spacer structure (6) may be of honeycomb form, or it may be of cardboard. The bag may include a liner (8). <IMAGE>

Description

4 6( is 2 22 0 13 9.'t FLEXIBLE CONTAINERS FOR LIQUIDS This invention

relates to containers for liquids# and is particularlyr although not exclusivelyr concerned with portable containers for herbicide which is to be delivered fr om hand"held equipment connected to the container.

It is known for liquids such as wine to be packaged in flexible_bags which are, in turn, accommodated in rigid boxesy for example of cardboard.

:10 The use of.such packaging for herbicide is proposed in British Patent No. 2136321.

The cost of the box, and in particular the cost of erecting it from a flat blankp inserting the filled bag - and then closing the boxy is a major element in the cost of the package as whole. Howevert without the box, the bag is vulnerable to puncturingy particularly when used outside for delivering herbicides.

Acc ording to the present invention there is provided a container for liquids, having a liquid- impermeable wall formed from two skins of flexible material which are interconnected by a spacer structure whereby, in use, the two skins are spaced apart from each other.

A container in accordance with the present invention may thus take the form of a flexible, doubleskinned bag. The outer skin effectively prevents Puncturing of the inner skin. The spacing between the skins, which is established by the spacer structure, may, for example, be in the range 2 to 25 mm, and is preferably in the range 5-to 12 mm.

Both of the skins may be made from the same material, preferably a plastics material such as polyvinyl chloride or a polyolefin (for example polyethylene). The skins may have the same thickness as each other-,, or one of the skins, such as the outer skin, may be thicker than,the other to provide - A 1 additional strength.

A liner may be disposed inside the inner skin, and may or may not be laminated to the inner skin.

The spacer structure may be made from flexible materials, and may be made from the same material as at least one of-the skins. Where both of the skins and the spacer structure are made from a plastics materiali, they can be boaded together by welding. In an alternative embodimentr the spacer structure may be made from a material such as cardboard.

The spacer structure may have a honeycomb form. For exampler the spacer structure-may be manufactured from sheets of-plastics material welded together at spaced locations -to provide elongate cells extending transversely of the skins. Alternatively, the spacer structure may comprise one or more sheets of material which are fluted to provide elongate channels extending parallel to the skins. In a preferred embodiment, the spacer structure comprises a flexible sheet which is bonded to one of the skins at locations which define a series of gasfilled pockets or "bubbles". The tops of the bubbles May be bounded to the other skin. The, bubbles hold the skins apart and also serve to cushion the wall of the bag from impact.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how it may be carried into effect#-reference w 11 now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:- - igure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view through the wall of a container, Figure 1A is a plan view of the wall of Figure ly with the outer skin omitted; Figure 2 shows a container comprising the wall of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is asectional view taken along the line III-III in Figure 2.

1 1 i The wall structure shown in Figure 1 comprises two skins 2 and 4 which are spaced apart by a spacer structure 6. In usel the skin 2 would be exposed to the outside, with the skin 4 on the-inside. A liner 8 is provided adjacent the inner skin 41 but is not bonded to the inner skin 4 except at edge regionst as will be described later.

The spacer structure 6 comprises a plastics sheet which is bonded to the inner skin 4 at regions 10.

:10 These regions 10_define "bubbles" 12 which extend away from the inner skin 4 and arebonded at their tops to the outer skin 2. The bubbles 12 define pockets 14 which contain gas.(normally air). Each pocket 16 may be substantially gas tight, although it is acceptable 1.5 for there to be some leakage across the regions 10 between adjacent bubbles 12.

The skins 2 and 4, the spacer structure 6 and the liner 8 may all be made from substantially the same materiall although the thicknesses may vary. Also, it may be desirable, for example, for the liner 8 to have special properties in order to avoid deterioration of the liquid to be contained in the bag. Similarly, the outer skin 2 may be provided with printed material identifying the nature of the contents of the bag, and information regarding its use.

Figures 2 and 3 represent a bag formed from the material shown in Figures 1 and 1A. As shown in Figure 2f the bag is generally pillow shaped And is provided with an outlet fitting 14. As shown in Figure 3,.the bag is formed by joining together two sheets of the material at edge regions. The sheets may be joined by welding at seams 16. To ensure that the bag is leakproof, it may be desirable for two or more spaced seams 16 to be provided, rather than the single seam as shown.

1 1 1

Claims

1. A container for liquids, having a liquidimpermeable wall of which at least part is formed from two skins of flexible material and a spacer structure which is disposed between the two skins whereby, in user the two skins. are spaced apart from each other.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, which is in the form of a bag.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the spacing-between the skins is not less than 2mm and hot more than 25mm.

4. A container as claimed in claim 3, in which the spacing between the skins is not less than 5mm and not more than 12mm.

5. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the skins are made from a plastics material.

6. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the spacer structure is bonded to at least one of the skins.

7. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the spacer structure comprises flexible material.

8. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which an outlet fitting is provided in the wall of the container.

9. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claimse, which contains herbicide.

10. A container substantially as described hereinwith reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

Published 1988 at The Patent Ofnee, State House, 56/71 High Holborn, London WC1R 4TP. Further copies may be obtained ftm The Patent Olnee, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent. Con- 1187.