IT202100000908A1 - CONTAINER STRUCTURE FOR LIQUID BAGS - Google Patents

Description

Description of the industrial invention entitled ?CONTAINER STRUCTURE FOR LIQUID BAGS?

DESCRIPTION

Scope of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the structure of a container for bags of liquid, typically wine, of the type known commercially as a ?bag-in-box?.

Brief hints on the prior art? Technical problem

[0002] Containers for liquids known as bagin-boxes are known, as described for example in US3173579, US5480057, and in many other documents. They comprise a substantially rigid outer casing, typically a cardboard box, and a flexible pouch, which can be be in a single material or in coupled material, such as plastic material and aluminium. The outer casing gives the product a stable shape and the necessary characteristics of mechanical resistance, while the bag, which is placed inside it, carries out the role of containing the liquid product and allowing it to be dispensed quickly and safely.

[0003] In particular, a dispensing cap is integrated into the bag, while the casing has a pre-punched opening, for example on the cardboard, initially closed and tear-openable, through which the user can remove the dispenser cap. Once extracted and removed the seals from the cap, the user can? withdraw the liquid from the bag through the dispenser without removing it from the wrapper.

[0004] Bag-in-boxes are therefore easy to make, since ? it is sufficient to introduce the bag into the wrapping through an upper opening of the wrapping, for example the upper opening of the parallelepiped cardboard box. Are they otherwise? easy to use, since? they simply require you to pierce the casing at the die cut, remove the dispensing cap and dispense the liquid. Normally the dispenser cap has a shape that can? be anchored to the wall of the container which defines the pre-punched hole. A simple maneuver on the dispenser cap then allows you to dispense the liquid, such as wine, with ease.

[0010] Bag-in-boxes have, as known, several advantages over traditional containers such as demijohns, large bottles, flasks, jerry cans, etc. In fact, in addition to the watertightness, the bag-in-boxes allow you to tap the liquid avoiding the entry of air, thanks to the deformability? of the bag, in favor of maintaining the characteristics of the product, for example the organoleptic characteristics of the wine or oil. In particular, the outflow of the liquid creates depression in the bag, and the external atmospheric pressure crushes it, favoring the outflow of all the liquid without any air entering.

[0011] Furthermore, they allow good insulation with respect to light and heat, good resistance to puncture/breakage, given the double wall of the outer casing and inner bag. They can then be transported and stored easily, given the substantially rigid solid shape. To facilitate transport? a handle in plastic material applied externally is often provided. Furthermore, they are containers suitable for large-scale distribution, since they do not require additional packaging and can have graphics printed directly on the wrapper.

[0012] The bag-in-boxes currently in use however have some disadvantages, in particular, related to disposal.

[0013] In the first place, must a large quantity be disposed of? of material per unit? of product content, since? this material includes the box, the cio? also parts of the building other than those that perform the effective function of containment.

[0014] Secondly, since the bag-in-box includes the cardboard casing, and the bag and possibly the handle in plastic material, ? It is necessary for the user to separate the two types of materials in order to correctly confer the waste to a differentiated collection system, with the risk of incorrect conferment or production of undifferentiated waste.

[0015] Another problem with common bag-in-boxes? the difficulty? to appreciate the content of liquid present in the bag, since? the cardboard walls of the casing are opaque.

[0016] There are also bag-in-boxes in which instead of the flexible bag? a plastic material container is provided, as described in JP2002225942A. The casing? made in two shells. For the rest, the? external casing? made like a traditional box for bag-in-boxes.

[0017] DE3725563 describes a bag-in-box in which the outer casing is made in two shells welded together. The outer casing is used to create a pressurized container for dispensing beer.

Summary of the invention

[0018] ? therefore the object of the present invention is to provide a container for bags of liquid which allows to significantly reduce the quantity? of waste to be disposed of per unit? by weight of liquid consumed, compared to current bag-in-box packages.

[0019] ? It is also an object of the invention to provide such a container which generates a waste material that is more? homogeneous compared to current bag-inbox packages.

[0020] ? further object of the invention is to provide such a container which allows easy transport of the bag-in-box package obtained by a user.

[0021] ? an equally object of the invention is to provide such a container which allows to obtain bag-in-box packages which are more? easily stackable than the current ones.

[0022] ? another object of the invention is to provide such a container which allows the bag to be introduced more easily. easier than in the current technique.

[0023] ? otherwise? The purpose of the invention is to provide such a container which allows to know at any moment how much liquid is? present in the bag.

[0024] ? of the same purpose of the invention to provide such a container which allows to further improve the conservation conditions of the liquid contained with respect to what is permitted with the current bag-in-box packages.

[0025] ? further object of the invention is to provide such a container which allows to refrigerate and maintain a desired temperature in a more efficient way. easier than the bag-in-box packages of the prior art allow.

[0026] These and other objects are achieved by a container for liquids as defined in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of said container are defined in the independent claims.

[0027] According to the invention, a liquid bag container structure comprises a rigid casing configured to contain within it a flexible bag removably disposed therein and provided with a dispensing cap,

[0028] According to the invention, the casing comprises two shells, respectively a first shell and a second shell, joined together by a hinge, in which the shells are configured to rotate around the hinge between an open position in which the shells are substantially coplanar, and a closed suitcase position.

[0029] The shells have the shape of a shell so that the whole of the shells defines an external surface and a surface of an internal compartment of the casing.

[0030] The shells comprise a perimeter edge along which ? there is at least one recess configured to house the dispensing cap.

[0031] This solution makes it possible to position the container with the two shells in the open position, position the bag full of liquid in one of the shells by placing the dispensing cap in the respective recess, and then close the suitcase? the two valves, so removable and described in more detail? after you.

[0032] In a possible embodiment, the shells are made of plastic material, in particular polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane. This solution makes it possible to have a wrap that can be reused an indefinite number of times, by only replacing the bag with new liquid. Alternatively can? be made of metallic material, for example aluminum, or of composite materials, e.g. comprising glass or carbon fibre, or vegetable fibres.

[0033] In a possible embodiment, the shells are mutually symmetrical and joined by this hinge in the form of a hinged joint line provided in the center line of a lower face of the casing, the lower face comprising or formed by the lower half-faces of the two valves.

[0034] Preferably, the hinge seam ? choice between:

- a portion of the casing with a reduced thickness, such as to allow the shells to mutually rotate around the hinged joint line

- two portions of mutual hinged coupling made on each valve.

[0035] Advantageously, the perimeter or internal edges can each have an inclination with respect to the lower half-faces, in which said inclinations are chosen so that, in the closed configuration of the shells, i.e. of the envelope is an angle of predetermined width formed? having vertex at the hinge. The breadth? of this angle can? be for example between 1? and 10?, preferably ? between 1? and 5?.

[0036] Through the corner ? therefore it is possible to see the inside of the container. This allows for example the color or design of the bag to be seen, for example to recognize the type of liquid present in the bag, such as wine, oil or other drinks, syrups, water or even non-food liquids such as detergents or disinfectants. Furthermore, ? It is possible to see the level of the liquid transparently, if the bag allows it. Also, across the corner ? it is also possible to understand, from the visible form of the bag, the quantity? liquid residue.

[0037] In a possible embodiment, at least one of the shells comprises extension portions of the rim configured to help contain the bag when the other shell is introduced and closed. This solution prevents, in certain embodiments, the bag placed on a valve from coming out of the latter, making it difficult to close the other valve.

[0038] More in detail, when the? amplitude ? of the angle formed by the internal edges of the two valves in the closed configuration? greater than 0?, the container structure comprises a pair of screens, each formed in two halves? placed near and parallel to rear and front half-faces of respective shells, these shields projecting with respect to the respective perimetric edges of the shells so as to approach each other before said perimetric edges of the two shells approach according to the amplitude angle ?.

[0039] This prevents the sac from prolapsed through the area of the amplitude angle ? and possibly be damaged, in particular, when the casing is closed.

[0040] In a possible embodiment, the shells of the casing are configured to give rise, in the closed configuration of the two shells, i.e. of the casing, with an inverted truncated pyramid shape, i.e. a prism having the side faces diverging from each other.

[0041] Advantageously, ? a device for mutual locking of the shells is provided, in particular reversible engagement means such as strips of fabric, Velcro, snap buttons, hooks, buckles, magnets, combinations thereof, snap protrusions and recesses, bands, etc.

[0042] Preferably, ? a pair of upper handles formed on respective upper half-faces of the shells is provided, in particular, as an alternative or in addition, lateral handles are provided respectively formed on the lateral faces.

[0043] In one embodiment, one of the two shells has a higher height than the other, and is? provided is a pair of handles respectively formed on an upper half-face and on an upper portion of a lateral face of the larger valve? high.

[0044] In a possible embodiment, the upper and/or side handles can be made as openings in the respective faces or half-faces of the casing shells.

[0045] In this way, by introducing the hand into the openings and grasping their contours, ? possible to make a firm grip to lift or move the container.

[0046] In one possible embodiment, the recess or recesses are cooperatively configured to house and secure a mounting flange of a bag-in-box dispenser cap. In particular, the mounting flange of the dispenser cap can? have a circular shape, and the recesses can have the shape of arcs of a circumference.

[0047] In a possible embodiment, ? a device has been foreseen to refrigerate the liquid contained in the bag, thus overcoming one of the limitations of the bag-in-box packages in common use, i.e. to be too large for many household refrigerators.

[0048] In particular, the refrigeration device can be based on a refrigerating machine of conventional structure, comprising a refrigerating body in the form of a condenser arranged inside the casing and having a first heat exchange surface positioned to be in contact with the bag, and also comprising an evaporator with a second heat exchange surface heat exchange arranged externally to said enclosure, so as to exchange heat with the air outside the container. The condenser and the evaporator comprise respective internal passage ways configured to receive and convey a refrigerating fluid arranged in series with each other by means of two ducts, so as to form a refrigerating circuit. Along one of the ducts ? arranged a compressor with the delivery mouth turned towards the condenser, while along the? other duct ? arranged a throttling member such as a valve so as to be traversed in the direction of pressure reduction directed towards the evaporator.

[0049] Alternatively, the cooling device can be based on a Peltier cell incorporated in a wall of the casing and comprising a first and a second heat exchange surface disposed respectively inside and outside the casing so as to be in heat exchange contact respectively with the bag and with the air outside the container.

[0050] Alternatively, the cooling device can include a pocket made inside the casing and separated from the rest of the inside of the casing by a thermally conductive wall, the pocket being configured to receive a cold body selected from water ice or dry ice in bulk or enclosed in a case, or also a cooling pad of the type commonly employed in some camping refrigerators.

[0051] In a possible embodiment, ? provided a device to indicate to a user the quantity? of residual liquid contained in the bag, thus overcoming one of the main limitations of commonly used bag-in-box packages, which do not allow you to visually estimate the quantity? of liquid inside them.

[0052] In particular, this device comprises a sight glass made in the form of at least one through opening made in a wall of one of the shells, in particular it can be a single opening elongated vertically.

[0053] Alternatively, or in addition, this device can be a weighing device comprising a system of load cells in the form of a plurality of pins made integral with the lower face of the casing and a display electrically connected to the load cell system and arranged on an external face of the casing.

Brief description of the drawings

[0054] The invention will come illustrated below with the following description of its embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings in which:

- figure 1 ? a schematic perspective view of a container according to a first embodiment of the invention;

- figure 2 ? a schematic front elevation view of the container of figure 1, the front side of the same being the one which houses the dispensing cap;

- figure 3 ? a schematic top plan view of the container of figures 1 and 2, in which upper handles are visible according to a possible variant of this embodiment;

- figures from 4 to 7 show a cycle for making or restoring a container according to the invention, by introducing a bag into a casing;

- figure 8 ? a schematic front elevation view of a container in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;

- figure 9 ? a schematic front elevation view of a container according to a variant of the embodiment shown in figure 8, in which ? a sight glass is provided;

Figures 10 and 11 are schematic front elevation views of containers in accordance with other embodiments of the invention;

- figure 12 ? a schematic front elevation view of a container according to a further variant of the embodiment of figures 1 and 2, in which ? provided with a rigid anti-prolapse shield from the bag;

- figures 13 and 14 are schematic perspective views of a container according to an embodiment which provides a different structure of the handle of the container;

- the figures are schematic front elevation views of containers according to two variants of the embodiment shown in figures 13 and 14; - figures 17 and 18 are schematic views respectively in perspective and in vertical section of a container according to a further embodiment of the invention;

- figures 19 - 21 are schematic views in vertical section of containers according to the invention provided with refrigeration devices according to different embodiments;

- figure 22 ? a schematic front elevation view of a container according to the invention provided with a weighing device comprising load cells.

Description of preferred embodiments

[0055] With reference to the aforementioned figures, a container for bags of liquid comprises a rigid casing 10 configured to contain within it a flexible bag 30 arranged removably inside it and provided with a dispensing cap 40.

[0056] According to the invention, the casing 10 comprises two shells, respectively a first shell 11a and a second shell 11b, joined together by a hinge 18. The set of shells 11a and 11b therefore defines the entire internal surface and the entire external surface of the casing 11. The two shells 11a, 11b are free to rotate around the hinge 18 between an open position in which the shells are substantially coplanar, and a closed suitcase-like position. The two shells 11a, 11b have the shape of a shell delimited by an internal or perimetric edge 21a, 21b, along which ? is there at least one recess 22a, 22b, to house the dispensing cap 40, as described in greater detail below? after you. This solution makes it possible to position the container with the two valves 11a, 11b in the open position, position the bag full of liquid in one of the valves 11a or 11b, placing the dispenser cap 40 in the respective recess 11a, 11b, and then close the two valves 11a or 11b, in a removable way and described in more detail? after you.

[0057] According to the invention the two shells 11a or 11b can be made of plastic material. This solution makes it possible to have a wrapper 10 that can be reused an indeterminate number of times, by replacing only the bag 30 with new liquid.

[0058] With reference to figures 1 and 2, a container 1 of the bag-in-box type is described in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, in which the first valve 11a and the second valve 11b are mutually symmetrical and joined by a hinged joint line 18 provided in the center line of a lower face 13a-13b.

[0059] The hinged seam 18 can? preferably be a portion of the casing 10 of reduced thickness, such as to allow the shells 11a and 11b to mutually articulate in rotation with respect to the hinged joint line 18, as shown in figures 4 and 7 described further? beyond.

[0060] In particular, the set of shells 11a and 11b respectively comprises an upper half-face 15a, 15b, a rear half-face 18a, 18b and an anterior half-face 12a, 12b which, in a closed configuration of the casing 10, form respective faces of the container 1. Each of the shells 11a and 11b further comprises a respective side face 14a, 14b of the container 1. The front half-faces 12a, 12b and/or rear 18a, 18b comprise respective edges 21a, 21b.

[0061] The internal or peripheral edges 21a, 21b, in a possible embodiment, as shown, can each have an inclination with respect to the lower half-faces 13a and 13b. These inclinations are chosen so that, in the closed configuration of the casing 1 shown in figures 1 and 2, a predetermined angle 25 of amplitude ? having vertex at the hinge joint line 18. Through the corner 25 ? it is therefore possible to see the inside of the container 1. This allows for example to see the color or design of the bag 30, for example to recognize the type of liquid present in the bag, such as wine, oil or other beverages, syrups, water or even liquids non-food items such as cleaners or disinfectants. Furthermore, ? it is possible to see the level of the liquid transparently, indicated with 35 in figure 2.

[0062] In a preferred variant, the shells 11a and 11b of the casing 10 are configured to give rise, in the closed configuration of the casing 1, to an inverted truncated pyramid shape, i.e. a prism having the side faces 14a, 14b diverging one with respect to the other.

[0063] As shown for example in Figure 4, the inner edges 21a and 21b of the front half-faces 14a and 14b can have a preferably rectilinear profile, with the exception of the respective preferably but not necessarily curvilinear recesses 22a, 22b, located at a predetermined distance from the lower half-faces 13a, 13b, so as to coincide with the position of the dispenser cap 40 of the bag 30.

[0064] These recesses 22a, 22b may or may not be symmetrical to each other, or may only one recess 22a or 22b may be provided in only one of the front half-faces 14a or 14B, provided that they globally form, in the closed configuration of the casing 10, an opening of a predetermined shape in the casing 10, as better specified below? after you.

[0065] The casing 10 of the container 1 can furthermore comprise a mutual locking device 20 of the shells 11a and 11b, which can? have various forms, as described pi? after you.

[0066] Figures 1-3 also show some optional features of the casing 10, namely a pair of upper handles 17a and 17b respectively formed on the upper half-faces 15a and 15b. Alternatively or additionally, side handles 16a and 16b can be provided, respectively formed on the side faces 14a and 14b.

[0067] As shown in the figures, the upper handles 17a, 17b and/or side handles 16a, 16b can be made as openings in the respective faces or half-faces of the shells 11a, 11b of the casing 10. In this way, introducing the hand into the openings and grasping the contours, ? possible to make a firm grip to lift or move the container 1.

[0068] As figure 2 shows, the two shells 11a and 11b can advantageously comprise respective partitions 31a and 31b substantially parallel to the respective upper walls 15a and 15b and at a predetermined distance from them, such as to allow the formation of housings 32a and 32b for height suitable to accommodate the fingers of a user when he slices the container for the handles 17a and 17b.

[0069] The bag 30 arranged in a removable way inside the casing 10, is configured, in a known way, to hermetically contain a liquid, for example a food, typically wine. This bag can be in plastic or plastic-aluminum coupled material, commonly used to make bagin-boxes of the conventional type, for which the detailed description is omitted. As such, the bag 30 for bag-in-box ? provided with a dispenser cap 40 arranged so that it can be extracted from the casing 10 of the container 1, in the immediate vicinity of the opening 29 between the recesses 22a, 22b. The dispenser cap 40 can? be for example a common dispenser cap 40 suitable for this application.

[0070] The dispenser cap 40 can be of any shape useful for the purpose, and pu? be for example as shown in figures 1 and 2, and essentially comprises a support base for the thumb of a hand, a pair of actuator fins 43 that move vertically in contrast with an internal spring for connection to an actuator, not shown, so to selectively allow the dispensing of the liquid contained in the bag 30, the level of which ? indicated by 35, through a delivery duct 42, preventing the entry of air.

[0071] The shape of the opening defined by the recesses 22a, 22b is established so as to allow the mounting flange 49 of the dispensing cap 40 for bag-in-box to be housed and fixed. In the example shown in the figures, the mounting flange 49 of the dispensing cap 40 has a circular shape, so that the recesses 22a, 22b are preferably arcs of circumference.

[0072] Notwithstanding what has been described above, ? it is also possible that there is only one recess 22a or 22b and the dispenser cap 40 of a corresponding shape. Also the two shells 11a, 11b can be different from those shown, for example asymmetrical to each other, and with a hinge 18 made, different from what has been described, in a manner known to a person skilled in the art.

[0073] With reference to figures 4-7, a possible sequence of operations is now described which allow to make the container 1 of figures 1-3 starting from a casing 10 and a bag 30, or to restore said container by replacing the bag 30.

[0074] Figure 4 shows an opening step of the casing 10, in which a user grips the shells 11a and 11b with his hands 99a and 99b respectively to bring them from a closed configuration to an open configuration, shown in figure 5, in where the two shells are substantially coplanar, for example resting on a plane not shown. In this configuration, the user places a bag 30 filled with liquid inside one of the two valves 11a and 11b, in this case in the valve 11a, making sure that the dispensing cap 40 is positioned near the valve. of the recess 22a or 22b of the inner edge 21a or 21b of the shell 11a or 11b, so that it can be extracted by the user through the opening 29 formed by the recesses 22a and 22b, in a subsequent step. The sequence of operations of figures 4 and 5 pu? also providing, in a manner not shown, for the opening of the shells 11a and 11b to remove an empty bag 30.

[0075] Subsequently, as shown in figure 6, the user brings the casing 10 into the closed configuration, preferably keeping the shell 11a resting on a plane and rotating the shell 11b with respect to the shell 11a around the hinge joint line 18. Or the user also as shown in figure 7. In both cases the closing movement leads to the conclusion of the operation, when the internal edges 21a and 21b form the angle 25 of predetermined width ?. The closing operation indicated above obviously also applies to other embodiments of the container according to the invention, some of which are shown below. after you.

[0076] In figures 4-7 ? also shown is a possible embodiment of the mutual locking device 20 between the shells 11a and 11b, in the form of respective reciprocal engagement means 20a and 20b arranged along the inner sides of the upper half-faces 15a and 15b, preferably reciprocal engagement means 20a and 20b Snap. Alternatively, reversible engagement means can be provided, such as strips of Velcro fabric and still others, snap buttons, buckles, magnets, combinations thereof, and other fastening means known to a person skilled in the art.

[0077] The casing 10 ? preferably made of plastic or other durable material, so as to guarantee a useful life long enough to be able to support a significant number of bag replacements 30. In the case of construction in plastic material, it can? for example polyethylene, polypropylene and other known plastic materials can be used. The casing 10 can? preferably be made by injection moulding, the molded pieces having, for example, the shape shown in figure 5, but also other similar shapes, with symmetrical or asymmetrical shells. The two shells 11a, 11b can be made with a single molding which includes the hinge 18 in the form of a flexible septum, or with two identical or different moldings, for example by making the hinge 18 by snap-connectable protrusions and recesses and made in the two shells 11a, 11b, in a manner known to a person skilled in the art.

[0078] Figures 8-11 show containers 2-5 in accordance with further embodiments of the casing 10.

[0079] In particular, the casing 10 of the container 2 of figure 8 differs from the container 1 of figures 1-3 basically in that the inner edges of the front faces 14a, 14b of the shells 11a, 11b, in the closed configuration, are aligned and substantially in contact with each other, in other words the width? of the angle 25 formed around the hinged seam line 18 ? equal to zero. Furthermore, in the variant shown, the side faces 24a, 24b are substantially parallel to each other, so that the casing 10 replicates the traditional box shape. They remain possible, for this embodiment and for the more? described below, the other features already? exposed above and not repeated here for simplicity? descriptive.

[0080] The casing 10 of the container 3 of figure 9 differs from the container 2 of figure 8 in that it has an opening 27 of a vertically elongated shape in one of the faces of the casing 10, preferably with a length substantially corresponding to the height of the bag 30, in order to be able to see from? the outside the level and therefore the quantity? of the liquid contained in the bag 30.

[0081] The casing 10 of the container 4 of figure 10 differs from the container 2 of figure 8 in that the two shells are configured so that the side walls 26a, 26b form, in the closed configuration, a truncated cone with the minor base downwards, in other words the lower half-faces 13a, 13b, in the closed configuration shown with a semicircular shape, form the lower base of the truncated cone. Like the lower base 10, the straight sections A-A of the closed casing 10 have a circular shape. This shape of the casing 10 further facilitates the emptying of the bag 30.

[0082] The casing 10 of the container 5 of figure 11 differs from the container 2 of figure 8 in that the two shells are configured so that the side walls 28a, 28b give rise, in the closed configuration, to a convex shape or a barrel, with the straight sections of the casing, also in this case, circular in shape.

[0083] As figure 12 shows, the container can comprise at least one internal screen to prevent the bag 30, during the closing of the two shells 11a and 11b as indicated in figures 4-7, from prolapse through the corner 25 risking damage and/or giving the container an unsightly appearance. In particular, this screen can be formed by two half? 37a and 37b of the respective shells 11a and 11b, protruding with respect to the respective internal edges 21a and 21b so as to close before the final approach of the internal edges 21a and 21b according to the angle ?. Even if it is shown in a container according to the embodiment of Figs. 1-2 , the prolapse shield 37a-37b can also be used in containers according to the other embodiments of the invention.

[0084] With reference to figures 13-16, an embodiment is now described in which a container 7 differs for example from the container 2 of figure 8 due to a different structure of the upper handles of the container. In the container 78, the two shells 11a and 11b have different heights, in particular in figures 13-16 the height of the right shell 11b exceeds the height of the left shell 11a by an amount H, in other words an upper portion 11b? of height H of the right valve 11b protrudes with the upper wall 15b of the quantity? H with respect to the superior wall 15a of the left valve 11a. The height H ? determined so as to allow the formation of a housing 33 sufficient to house the hand of a user when he slices the container for the handle 17b.

[0085] In addition to the handle 17b made as a through hole in the upper wall 15b of the right valve 11b, the latter can? advantageously present a further through hole 19 made in the side wall 14b in correspondence with the upper protruding portion 11b?, which collaborates with the through hole 17b to provide a handle of the container 7. Possible further through holes 19? can have a similar purpose. and 19? made in the front and rear walls 12b and 13b respectively of the right valve 11b, again in correspondence with the upper protruding portion 11b?.

[0086] Even if this shape of the lifting handles 17b, 19 ? shown by a modification of the container 2 of figure 8, it can? be made in a way comprehensible to a person skilled in the art by modifying any container according to the invention, for example the containers 1 of figures 1-3 and 3, 4 and 5 of figures 9-11.

[0087] Preferably, does the valve 11b of greater height, in this case the right valve, include an internal or intermediate wall 15b? which is located at the same distance from the upper wall 15a of the pi? low 11a from the lower wall 13a-13b. Are the respective mutual engagement means 20a and 20b, which form the mutual locking device 20 between the shells 11a and 11b, in this case preferably arranged along the inner sides of the upper wall 15a and the intermediate wall 15b? of the valves respectively pi? low and more high 11a and 11b.

[0088] Figure 16 shows a container 7a, according to a variant of the embodiment of figures 13-15, which differs from the container 7 of these figures in that the left and right shells 11a and 11b have the same width instead of different widths.

[0089] With reference to figures 17 and 18, a container 8 is described according to a further embodiment of the invention, in which the upper walls 25a and 25b of the shells 11a and 11b have a curvature, in particular they have a convexity oriented towards the outside of the casing 10 or of the container 8. This embodiment facilitates the snap closure of the casing 10 by means of the mutual locking device 20, as well as improving the mechanical resistance of the upper face or roof 14a-14b of the ?casing 10.

[0090] In the figures ? shown is a variant in which the cross sections of the casing 10, in the closed configuration, are rectangular and the side faces 14a and 14b are flat, so that the container 8 has a substantially casket shape. However, variants are also possible in which the cross sections of the casing 10, in the closed configuration, are curvilinear, in particular circular or elliptical, and the side faces 14a and 14b are convex, so that the lower portion of the container has a substantially ice cream cone instead? casket or trunk as in figures 17 and 18. In this case, the upper walls 25a and 25b have biaxial curvature and have overall the shape of, for example, a semi-ellipsoid or a hemisphere instead of of a semi-cylinder as in figures 17 and 18.

[0091] Similar to the embodiments described above, the container 8 comprises a pair of through holes 17a and 17b which act as upper handles, respectively made on the upper half-faces 25a and 25b. The semi-cylindrical or other outwardly convex shaped cap formed by the convex upper walls 25a and 25b advantageously has such a height as to form a housing 34 sufficient to accommodate the hand of a user when he slices the container by the handle formed by the holes passers-by 17a and 17b.

[0092] With reference to figures 19-21, containers 9a, 9b, 9c are now described provided with a device 50 for refrigerating the liquid 35 contained in the bag 30, according to different embodiments.

[0093] In particular, figure 19 schematically shows a container 9a in which the refrigerating device 50 is based on conventional refrigeration equipment. This refrigerating apparatus comprises a refrigerating body 51 arranged inside the casing 10 with a first heat exchange surface positioned to be in contact with the bag 30 containing the liquid 35, and furthermore comprises an evaporator 52 with a second heat exchange surface 52 arranged outside the casing 10. Preferably, the second heat exchange surface is? an extended surface and/or associated with a fan 53 to enhance the heat exchange with the external air. The refrigerating body 51 and the evaporator 52 have respective internal passage ways, not shown, which are configured to receive and convey a refrigerating fluid and which are connected in series to each other by two pipes, not shown. Along one of these ducts ? arranged a compressor with the delivery directed towards the refrigerating body or condenser 51, while along the other duct? a throttling valve or equivalent device is arranged so that it flows in the direction of pressure reduction directed towards the evaporator 52. To operate the compressor and any fan 53? a power supply cable 54 is provided.

[0094] Alternatively, Figure 20 schematically shows a container 9b in which the refrigeration device 50 based on a Peltier cell 55 incorporated in a wall of the casing 10, for example but not limited to a side wall 14a. The Peltier cell 55 comprises a first heat exchange surface 56, or cold surface, arranged inside the casing 10 so as to be in contact with the bag 30 containing the liquid 35, and also comprises a second heat exchange surface 57, or hot surface, arranged externally to the casing 10 so as to exchange heat with the external air. Preferably, the second heat exchange surface 57 is associated with a fan 53 to enhance the heat exchange with the external air. To operate the cooler 50 ? a power supply cable 54 is provided.

[0095] Figure 21 instead shows a container 9c according to an embodiment of the invention in which the refrigerating device 50 comprises a pocket 58 formed inside the casing 10, for example on the lower bottom of the casing 10. The pocket 58 is? separated from the rest of the interior of the casing 10 by a thermally conductive wall 39, for example a mesh 39. The pocket 58 is configured to receive a cold body 59, for example loose cubes of water or dry ice or enclosed in a cooling case, or one or more? cooling tiles or cold accumulators of the type commonly used in some camping refrigerators.

[0096] Although the containers equipped with the refrigerating device 50 have been described as modifications of the container 8 shown in figures 17 and 18, the refrigerating device 50 can be made in a similar way and understandable to a person skilled in the art in any container according to the invention, for example in the containers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 shown in figures 1-16.

[0097] With reference to figure 22, a container 3a is now described provided with a device for weighing the liquid 35 contained in the bag 30. The weighing device comprises a system of load cells 75 in the form of pins made integral with the lower surfaces 13a , 13b of the casing 11, and of a display 77 electrically connected to the load cell system 75 and arranged on the casing 11 in a way that is easily visible by a user, for example on a front surface 12b, or on a side surface 24a, 24b or rear 18a, 18b of casing 11. The viewer 77 can? be configured to notify the user of the weight of the liquid 35 contained in the bag 30, or the number of glasses or goblets of capacity? note that they can be served with the contained liquid.

[0098] Even if the container provided with a weighing device ? been described as a modification of the container 2 shown in figure 8, the weighing device can? be made in a similar way and understandable to a person skilled in the art in any container according to the invention, for example in the containers 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9a, 9b, 9c shown in figures 1-3 and 9-21.

[0099] Other forms of the container are obviously possible, falling entirely within the concepts described above. Also the position of the dispenser 40 and of the relative recesses 22a and 22b can be different from the one shown, due to specific liquid dispensing choices that can be envisaged.

[00100] The above description of embodiments of the invention ? able to show the invention from a conceptual point of view so that others, using the prior art, will be able to modify and/or adapt these specific embodiments in various applications without further research and without departing from the inventive concept, and, therefore, intends that such adaptations and modifications will be considered as equivalent to the specific embodiments. The means and materials for achieving the various functions described may be of various kinds without thereby departing from the scope of the invention. It is understood that the expressions or terminology used are for purely descriptive purposes and, therefore, not limiting.

Claims (10)

1. A container structure (10) for bags (30) of liquid comprising a rigid casing (10) configured to contain a flexible bag (30) removably arranged inside it and provided with a dispenser cap (40), characterized in that That: said casing (10) comprises two shells, respectively a first shell (11a) and a second shell (11b), joined together by a hinge (18), in which said shells (11a, 11b) are configured to rotate around said hinge (18) between an open position, in which said shells (11a, 11b) are substantially coplanar, and a closed position, wherein said shells (11a, 11b) have the shape of a shell so that said shells (11a, 11b) together define an external surface and a surface of an internal compartment of said casing (11), wherein said shells (11a,11b) comprise a perimetric edge (21a,21b) along which ? there is at least one recess (22a, 22b) configured to house said dispenser cap (40). 2. The container structure (10) for bags (30) of liquid according to claim 1, wherein said shells (11a, 11b) are made of plastic material, in particular polyethylene or polypropylene. 3. The container structure (10) for bags (30) of liquid according to claim 1, wherein said shells (11a, 11b) are mutually symmetrical and are joined by said hinge in the form of a hinged joint line ( 18) provided in the middle of a lower face of said casing (10), said lower face comprising lower half faces (13a, 13b) of respective said shells (11a, 11b), in particular said hinge joint line (18) ? choice between: - a portion of said casing (10) having reduced thickness, such as to allow said shells (11a, 11b) to mutually articulate in rotation around said hinged joint line (18); - two hinged coupling portions made on each shell of said shells (11a, 11b). 4. The container structure (10) for bags (30) of liquid according to claim 1, wherein each said perimeter edge (21a, 21b) has a respective inclination with respect to said lower half-faces (13a, 13b), wherein said inclinations are chosen so that, in said closed configuration of said shells (11a, 11b) an angle (25) is formed having a predetermined width (?) and vertex in correspondence with said hinge (18), in particular said amplitude (?) of said angle (25) ? between 1? and 10?, more? particularly between 1? and 5?, in particular, said container structure comprises a pair of screens each formed by two halves? (37a,37b) disposed in proximity? and parallel to rear (18a,18b) and front (12a,12b) half-faces of respective shells (11a,11b), protruding with respect to respective perimetric edges (21a,21b) of said shells (11a,11b) so as to approach between them before the final approach of said perimeter edges (21a, 21b) according to said angle (25) of amplitude (?). 5. The container structure (10) for bags (30) of liquid according to claim 1, wherein said shells (11a, 11b) of said casing (10) are configured to give rise, in said closed configuration, of said shells ( 11a, 11b), with an inverted truncated pyramid shape, i.e. to a prism having side faces (14a, 14b) diverging with respect to each other. 6. The container structure (10) for bags (30) of liquid according to claim 1, wherein ? a mutual locking device (20,20a,20b) of said shells (11a,11b) is provided, in particular reversible engagement means selected from strips of Velcro fabric, snap buttons, buckles, magnets, and combinations thereof. 7. The container structure (10) for bags (30) of liquid as per claim 1, wherein handles selected from among: - a pair of upper handles (17a, 17b) formed on respective upper half faces (15a, 15b) of said shells (11a, 11b); - a pair of side handles (16a, 16b) formed on respective side faces (14a, 14b) of said shells (11a, 11b); - a pair of handles respectively formed on an upper half-face (15b) and on an upper portion of a lateral face (14b) of a valve (11b) having a height greater than the other valve (11a) by an amount? (H) predetermined, in particular said upper (17a,17b) and/or side (16a,16b) handles are made as openings in the respective faces (14a,14b) or half-faces (15a,15b,25a,25b) of said shells (11a,11b) . 8. The container structure (10) for bags (30) of liquid according to claim 1, wherein said at least one recess (22a, 22b)? configured to house and secure a mounting flange (49) of a bag-in-box dispenser cap (40), in particular, said mounting flange (49) has a circular shape, and there are two recesses (22a, 22b) made on respective perimetric edges (14a, 14b) of said shells (11a, 11b), facing each other and each having the shape of an arc of a circumference. 9. The container structure (10) for bags (30) of liquid according to claim 1, wherein ? a refrigerating device (50) is provided for refrigerating said liquid (35) contained in said bag (30), said refrigerating device (50) being selected from: - a refrigerating machine comprising - a cooling body in the form of a condenser (51) arranged inside said casing (10) and having a first heat exchange surface positioned to be in contact with said bag (30); - an evaporator (52) with a second heat exchange surface arranged externally to said casing (10), said refrigerating body (51) and said evaporator (52) comprising respective internal passage ways configured to receive and convey a refrigerating fluid and in in series with each other by means of two ducts to form a circuit, along one of said ducts a compressor is arranged with a delivery port facing said cooling body (51), and along the other of said ducts a lamination member is arranged in such a way to be traversed in the direction of pressure reduction directed towards said evaporator (52); - a Peltier cell (55) incorporated in a wall (14a) of said casing (10) and comprising a first heat exchange surface (56) arranged inside said casing (10) so as to come into contact with said bag (30); a second heat exchange surface (57) arranged externally to said casing (10) so as to exchange heat with air external to said container; - a device comprising a pocket (58) made inside said casing (10) and separated from the rest of the interior of said casing (10) by a thermally conductive wall (39), said pocket (58) being configured to receive a body cold (59) chosen from water ice or dry ice in bulk or enclosed in a case; a cooling pad. The container structure (10) for bags (30) of liquid according to claim 1, wherein ? foreseen a device (27,70) to indicate to a user a quantity? of said liquid (35) contained in said bag (30), said device being selected from: - a sight glass (27) made in one of said shells (11a, 11b), in particular a single vertically elongated opening; - a weighing device (70) comprising - a load cell system (75) in the form of a plurality of feet made integral with said lower face (13a, 13b) of said casing (11); - a display (77) electrically connected to said load cell system (75) and arranged on an external face (12b) of said casing (11).