"LIQUID STORAGE AND DISPENSING BAG"
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
THIS invention relates to a liquid storage and dispensing bag.
In many cases potable liquids intended for human consumption, such as mineral water, soft drinks and fruit juices, are sold in bottles or cans. Bag-in- the-box arrangements are also known in which liquids such as wine and fruit juices are stored in flexible bags which are in turn accommodated within rigid boxes. However in these cases it is not the intention that the bag be removable from the box, and even if one can get the bag out of the box, it is difficult to handle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a liquid storage and dispensing bag comprising:
overlying plies of flexible material peripherally sealed to one another to define an internal, liquid-tight storage volume for a liquid and an operatively upper region adjacent the storage volume,
an outlet from the storage volume at an operatively lower end thereof, and
a manually operable valve for controlling dispensing of liquid from the storage volume through the outlet,
wherein the operatively upper region is perforated by at least one hand or finger grip opening by means of which the bag can be carried manually.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bag has a rectangular shape and multiple, typically four, finger grip openings are provided in the operatively upper region. The spacing of these openings is conveniently selected for comfortable insertion therethrough, for carrying purposes, of the four fingers of a human hand.
The plies of the bag are preferably of flexible, light-transmitting material through which the contents of the storage volume will be visible to an observer.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a liquid storage and dispensing bag according to one embodiment of this invention;
Figure 2 shows a front view of the bag of Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 shows a side view of the bag of Figure 1 ;
Figures 4 to 6 show partial cross-sections at the lines 4-4, 5-5 and
6-6 in Figure 1 ;
Figure 7 shows a front view of a liquid storage and dispensing bag according to a second embodiment of the invention; and
Figure 8 shows a front view of the operatively upper region of a liquid storage and dispensing bag according to a third embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
Figures 1 to 6 illustrate a rectangular liquid storage and dispensing bag 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The bag 10 has two walls 12 each of two-ply construction. In each case, there is a relatively thin inner ply 14 and a relatively thick, tough outer ply 16. Both plies of each wall are flexible in nature and are of a suitable thermoplastics material, typically polypropylene.
The four plies 14 and 16 are heat-sealed to one another at heat seal lines 18 running along the lower edge 20 and the side edges 22 of the bag. At the top edge 24 of the bag, the four plies are heat-sealed to one another in an operatively upper region 26 which is somewhat wider than the lines 18. Four equi-spaced, round openings 30 are formed through the four plies in a central area of the region 26. As illustrated, there is no heat seal between the plies in zones 28 adjacent the side edges or immediately around the openings 30.
The heat-sealing of the plies as described above results in the formation of an internal storage volume 32 which is completely bounded by the heat seals at the lines 18 and in the region 26 and which is accordingly liquid-tight.
The bag 10 also includes a outlet formed through the plies 14, 16 of one wall 12 at a position towards a lower corner of the bag. A valve 34 has a flange 36 which is heat-sealed to the plies 14 and 16 about the outlet. The valve has an outwardly projecting body portion fixed to the flange 36 and formed with ribs 38.
The valve also has a hollow stem which extends through the body portion, communicating with the interior of the storage volume 32, and carries a flange 42. A downwardly directed dispensing opening 43 is formed in the wall of the stem near to its free end. A closure member has a knurled finger grip cap 44 carrying an internal spigot which locates slidably within the stem 40. An internal formation on the knurled cap 44 rides in a spiral groove (not visible) formed in the outer surface of the stem.
Those skilled in the art will recognise that the valve 34 is of a conventional type which is widely used for dispensing purposes in bag-in-the-box applications. The arrangement of the valve is such that when the finger grip cap 44 is rotated in one direction relative to the stem, from an open condition to a closed condition, the interaction of the internal formation and spiral groove mentioned above moves the spigot inwardly such that it blocks the dispensing opening 43. In this situation, liquid cannot be dispensed from the bag 10. When the finger grip portion is rotated in the other direction, from the closed condition to the open condition, the interaction of the internal formation and groove moves the spigot outwardly far enough for its inner end to clear the dispensing opening 43. In this condition, gravitational dispensing of the liquid contents of the bag 10 can take place through the outlet and valve.
In practice, the storage volume 32 is charged with a predetermined volume of a liquid which is to be stored and dispensed. In one particular application of the invention, the liquid might be mineral spring water. The charged bag may then be used in a bag-in-the-box type application, or on its own. In the former case, the bag is accommodated in a rigid box.
The box which is used is preferably of the type described in a co-pending patent application filed simultaneously by the present applicant. In this application, the valve is initially also accommodated within the box. When initial dispensing of the liquid contents of the bag is to take place the valve is pulled outwardly through an opening in a side wall of the box such that the edges of the opening are trapped between the ribs 38 and the flange 42. The dispensing opening 43 of the valve is then located outside the box for gravitational dispensing of liquid whenever the finger grip cap is rotated from its closed to its open position.
The openings 30 are an important feature and are spaced apart by a distance approximating the spacing of human fingers when slightly and comfortably splayed apart. Thus it is possible to carry the bag around by slipping the four fingers of one hand through the openings 30 which therefore provide a convenient handle for the bag. It will be noted that the openings are formed in the region 26 of the bag which has considerable strength because of the presence of the four plies 14 and 16. Thus there is little chance of the region 26 tearing even when the bag is full to its design maximum. The bag may, for instance, be capable of accommodating six litres of liquid.
The plastics material of which the plies 14 and 16 are made is light- transmitting. With this feature, it is possible for an observer to see how full the bag is and hence to determine in advance when replacement will be necessary. Even when the bag is used in a bag-in-the-box application, it is a relatively simple matter to extract the bag from the box to determine how full it is. If the box itself is light transmitting, even this will not be necessary. As an added feature, at least some of the plies may incorporate a suitable colourant, typically blue, for aesthetic reasons.
It is intended that the bag 10 be disposed of when empty. In a bag-in-a-box application the bag 10 can be replaced, in the box, by a full bag whenever this is necessary.
Figure 7 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention which differs from the first embodiment only in the operatively upper region 26. It will be seen that the region 26 is defined by transversely extending heat seal lines 50, longitudinally extending heat seal lines 52 and obliquely orientated heat seal lines 54. The finger grip openings 30 extend through the four plies 14, 16 in a rectangular zone defined between heat seal lines 50 and 52 as illustrated.
The third embodiment illustrated in Figure 8 differs from that of Figure 7 only that the upper corners are trimmed off, along the heat seal lines 52 and 54, as shown.
In each of Figures 7 and 8, the inclusion of the oblique heat seal lines 54 creates a tendency, when the bag is placed in a box in a bag-in-the-box application, for the bag to develop random creases in the walls 12. In situations where both the plies 14, 16 and the box itself are made of clear, light-transmitting material, this creates the aesthetically pleasing appearance of a block of ice.
Many modifications are of course within the scope of the invention. The multiple finger grip openings described above may, for instance, be replaced by a single opening, typically slot-shaped, through which all four fingers of one hand, or the hand itself, can be inserted for carrying purposes. The dispensing opening and valve 34 may be centrally disposed at the lower end of the bag.