Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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KW100289/903.1.061 D 8434
A PACKAGING CONTAINER FOR A FLOWABLE PRODUCT
BACKGROUND
1.0 Field Of The Invention:
The field of the present invention relates to packaging
containers for accommodating flowable products, and more
particularly to such containers including a bag with a
closeable outlet bung or stopper.
2.0 Discussion Of Related Art:
There are several applications for so-called "bag-in-box"
containers in which, for example, liquids in plastic bags are
stored in wrap-around cases. The cases serve as packaging
containers, and are provided with closeable outlet openings
which cooperate with the plastic bags. The advantage of such
packs is that only the bag accommodating the liquid need
consist of a physiologically compatible and harmless material,
without this material also having to provide the functions
typical of such packs, i.e. such as strength, transportability
and handling. These functions are performed by the wrap-around
case which is normally made, for example, of corrugated
cardboard manufactured from recycled waste paper.
A particular problem is posed by the closures for such
packs, which generally must satisfy a number of requirements.
The closures must be readily convertible from pure transport
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closures into dispensing closures, such as pouring taps or the
like, must be inexpensive to manufacture, and particularly must
be simple to handle to insure that they are consumer-friendly.
In addition, the closures must be liquid-tight and reliable in
operation, and must enable the packed products to be readily
removed, and optionally, the liquid containers to be
replaceable within a given pack.
3.0 Summary Of The Invention:
With the problems of the prior art in mind, an object of
the present invention is to provide an improved packaging
container for flowable products, which is simple and economic
to manufacture, and has a wide range of applications.
According to the invention, the present packaging
container includes a bung neck having at least two and
preferably four parallel, opposite, outwardly facing straight
surfaces for positioning the bung.
This inventive configuration of the bung prevents the
bung neck from turning by bearing against corresponding
openings in a surrounding cardboard box, and simplifies
handling and accommodates screw closures and press closures.
In addition, overall height is minimized so that, for example,
in the case of a prefabricated pack, the closure projects only
very slightly from the rest of the pack.
In another embodiment of the invention, the straight
surfaces are in the form of square surfaces on the inside
and/or outside of part of the bung wall.
The provision of these square surfaces provides
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particular advantages in that not only the bung itself, but
also optional closure elements which project into the interior
of the bung neck where they encounter detent and fixing
surfaces by virtue of the inner square, can be fixed firmly
against rotation in the wrap-around case.
For direction-oriented use of the closure, it is also
possible inter alia to provide at least one recess in the outer
periphery of the rim of the bung neck.
In another embodiment of the invention, the bung neck
merges through an outwardly facing slope into the flange of the
bung, the slope serving as a centering or insertion surface
during insertion of the bung into the corresponding elements of
the pack.
The bung flange may be in the form of a thin-walled
welding flange for fastening to the elements of the pack. More
particularly, the welding flange may be used for fixing the
liquid-tight fastening of the bag holding the liquid.
Another embodiment of the invention includes a closure
element externally surrounding the free end of the bung, at
least locally with detent studs for engaging around the upper
free rim of the bung neck, is provided with a pouring spout
equipped with a closure cap provided over a notch as a weakened
point.
In addition to this closure element with a pouring spout,
an emptying tap projecting locally into the interior of the
bung neck may also be provided as a closure element with fixing
studs designed to engage in the corresponding recesses in the
neck of the bung.
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To provide easier handling and easier recognition of the
particular angular position, for example, the "OPEN-CLOSED"
positions, the emptying tap may be provided with a grip tab
perpendicularly of its axis of rotation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further particulars, features and advantages of the
invention will become apparent from the following description
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like
items are identified by the same reference number, in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of a bung according to the
invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the bung, partly in
section.
Figure 3 shows a closure element with a pouring spout,
partly in section.
Figure 4 shows a closure element with a rotary tap.
Figure 5 is a plan view of a tap in the direction of
arrow V in Figure 4.
Provided in a multi-ply carton 1 shown only schematically
in Figure 2 is a bung which is generally denoted by the
reference 2, and which is formed by a bung neck 3 and a flange
4. The flange 4 is in the form of a welding flange, i.e. for
example a plastic bag 5 is fixed, i.e. welded, thereto in a
liquid-tight manner.
The bung 2 comprises an encircling fixing flange or
collar 6 and outwardly straight surfaces 7 between the collar 6
and a transition slope 8 to the welding flange 4, the
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transition slope 8 serving simultaneously as a centering or
insertion slope. The straight surfaces 7 form an outer square,
and are used to fix the bung 2 firmly against rotation in the
packaging container 1.
For fixing closure and dispensing elements shown in
Figures 3 to 5, the neck 3 of the bung 2 comprises at its upper
free end 9 an outwardly facing retaining bead 10 with indents
14, and an inner retaining groove or a correspondingly shaped
retaining rim 11.
The inner surface of the neck 3 is also provided a square
which is shown in dash-dot lines in Figure 1 and is denoted by
the reference 12. The round inner corners are denoted by the
reference 13. Indents 14 and 15 in the upper encircling
retaining bead 10 and in the collar 6 are also shown, and
likewise serve to prevent elements corresponding with the bung
2 from rotating.
Figure 3 shows a closure element generally denoted by the
reference 16 with a pouring spout 17 equipped with a head cap
18 designed to be removed by the user via a weakened point 19.
The closure element 16 surrounds the bung neck 3 from inside to
outside, and engages behind the retaining rim at the free end
of the bung neck 9.
Another type of closure comprises a dispensing tap 20,
which projects into the interior of the bung neck 3, and a type
of snap-in/detent fastening 21 behind the rim 11 in the
interior of the bung neck (See Figure 4). Studs 22 may be
provided to prevent rotation, engaging for example in the
recess 14 in the upper free rim 9 of the bung neck 3.
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The described embodiments of the invention have been made
for purposes of illustration, and modifications thereto may be
apparent to those of ordinary s]cill in the art7 which
modifications are meant to be covered by the spirit and scope
of the appended claims.
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