Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DISPOSABLE PIPING BAGS
Field of Invention
This invention relates to devices commonly referred to as piping bags, pastry
bags or icing bags.
Such bags are generally filled with a thick, flowable material such as icing,
pureed fruit or
vegetable, or mayonnaise, which is expressed from the bag through a nozzle,
usually to achieve a
decorative effect. The invention more particularly relates to disposable
piping bags and nozzles
therefor.
I o Baclcground of Invention
Refillable piping bags of the prior art typically include a pouch having an
open upper end defining
a fill opening, and an open lower end of smaller transverse cross sectional
dimension than that of
the upper end, defining an outlet end. Typically, the pouch wall is
constructed from a durable,
impervious fabric that is permanently bonded to a nozzle base at the outlet
end, to which base must
be selectively connected a nozzle tip of desired cross-sectional shape to
provide a pre-determined
decorative effect. Improvements relating to such bags are described in the
following patent
documents:
US patents 5,931,346 Wallays
5,026,194 Lewis
4,961,517 Tkac
4,844,917 DeLorimiere
4,776,488 Gurzan
4,205,765 May
US Application 6,179,165B 1 Knight et al
It is well established that fabric piping bags are usually contaminated with
pathogens even after
cleansing in a manner to which they would be commony subject in a domestic or
small scale
commercial facility. It is known to provide disposable piping bags in the form
of kits. As will be
subsequently described in greater detail, one such kit includes a pouch
constructed from plastic film
3o having a flat, triangular shape when empty, and which is accordingly
similar to that of the reusable
fabric bags mentioned above. These disposable bags require a nozzle, which is
provided as part of
the kit, to be inserted through the fill opening of the bag, and wedged
tightly into the pouch
adjacent to the dispensing opening. While disposable bags formed from this kit
are generally suited
for small-scale domestic use, they are inappropriate for large-scale
commercial use or for
distribution in a filled condition. Moreover, they do not permit the nozzle
shape to be changed
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once the pouch is filled, nor do they facilitate the storage of the bags when
filled or following their
partial use.
A difficulty associated with this kit is that of retaining the nozzle in its
wedged, sealed position
within the pouch, due to a reactive force exerted by the pouch upon the
conically inclined surface
of the nozzle. In practice, a further dislodging force may often arise due to
inadvertence; typically,
when filling the bag, the nozzle may contact a support surface such as a
kitchen counter-top,
whereby the nozzle is pushed towards the interior of the bag. These problems
are likely to be even
more acute where the bags are intended for commercial or professional use, as
they will generally'
be larger and heavier. Moreover, while the pouches are intended to be
disposable following their
use, it may be preferred that the nozzles be re-used, in which case stainless
steel may be a preferred
material of construction. The coefficient of friction between this material
and most plastic
materials of likely interest for forming a disposable pouch is relatively low,
and it has not been
practical heretofore to provide disposable piping bags with stainless steel
nozzles.
It is also known to distribute pre-mixed cake icing which is hermetically
sealed within a collapsible
plastic tube having an outlet unitarily formed therewith. Such tubes are
relatively small, and are
intended for a single use. The tubes have a nipple-like outlet end, and the
user makes the outlet
opening by cutting off the end of the nipple with scissors or the like. There
is no provision for
coupling these bags to nozzle caps of different cross sections or for closing
the tubes once they
have been opened.
In order to be economically viable, disposable piping bags should be
inexpensive to produce and
distribute, and they should not significantly increase the cost of production
of the various types of
substances that may be sealed and distributed in the bags.
It is an object of this invention to provide disposable piping bags to which
nozzle caps of different
types may be coupled without necessitating the bag being empty.
It is a further object of this invention to provide disposable piping bags
that may be filled and
distributed in a sealed condition, to which nozzle caps of different cross-
section may be coupled.
It is another object of this invention to provide economic lcits to facilitate
the easy and convenient
assembly of disposable, sealable piping bags.
JJ
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It is yet another object of this invention to provide nozzles, including
stainless steel nozzles, for
piping bags that are easily assembled with disposable pouches, to form piping
bags to which nozzle
tips of various types may be selectively coupled when the bag is filled, so as
to close the bag for
storage or through which the contents of the bag may be extruded for different
decorative effects.
Summary of the Invention
In accordance with one aspect of this invention, a disposable piping bag
comprises a pouch with an
expressible, viscous medium sealed therein. The pouch is constructed from a
thin, flexible
material, with plastic film being particularly suited and preferred, so as to
collapse on the
expression ofthe medium from the pouch. The pouch has a neck portion adjacent
one axial end
thereof having conically reducing transverse cross-sections. The piping bag
further comprises
nozzle means including a funnel-like base that comprises conically inclined
wall portions
connected in flow relationship with a spout portion. The nozzle base is
disposed at least in part
within the pouch with neck portions thereof in gripping, relationship with the
conically inclined
wall portions of the nozzle base so as to create a seal therewith. Where the
piping bag is intended
to be distributed in a filled condition, the nozzle means further comprises a
nozzle cap disposed
outside of the pouch, and the nozzle base and the nozzle cap will suitably
include complementary
coupling means for selectively coupling the nozzle cap to said nozzle base,
with portions of the
pouch trapped therebetween, thereby serving to prevent the accidental
dislodgement of the nozzle
base from its gripped condition within the pouch. Suitably and preferably
also, security seal means
will be provided to close the outlet of the spout portion to prevent tampering
of the medium
contained in the pouch.
Suitably and preferably, the conically inclined portions of the nozzle base
are generally smooth
walled on their outwardly facing surface, so as to provide a good area of
sealing contact between
the nozzle base and the pouch. ~ver a period of time, it is found that the
sealing contact between
the pouch and the nozzle base is reduced, due at least in part to reactive
forces generated by the
pouch that tend to urge the base from its sealing contact with the walls of
the pouch. This problem
may be particularly acute when the medium contained within the pouch has a
high fat or oil
content, such as mayonnaise or whipped butter, for example. Accordingly, the
conically inclined
wall portions of the nozzle base portion are suitably and preferably provided
with surface
dislocations thereon which function to counteract these reactive forces.
Preferably, the dislocations
are raised on the conical walls of the nozzle base, although they may also
comprise or include
surface indentations, particularly where the pouch is shrunk into the nozzle
base, or where one or
more constrictive elements are used to clamp the pouch wall to the nozzle
base. Suitably, the
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dislocations extend arcuately across the surface of the conical walls. In
accordance with the
preferred, illustrative embodiment, the surface dislocations comprise several
annular bands raised
on the surface of the base portion, but it will be understood that the number
and type of dislocations
may vary widely and that they may be selected in accordance with different
factors such as the
conical angle of the base portion of the nozzles, and the materials of
construction of the nozzle and
~~ ~ the pouch. It will also be understood that the nozzle cap, where it
serves to'trap portions of the
pouch, will also act in addition to the surface deformations to resist the
reactive, dislodging force
generated on the nozzle base by the pouch walls.
l0 Suitably and preferably, the piping bag may comprise a selection of the
nozzle caps, and include,
for example a cap which may be used to close the outlet opening of the nozzle
base when the bag is
stored for a period of time, and one or more elongated caps with a bore
therethrough to thereby
form nozzle tips of different cross-sections to provide different artistic
effects when extruding
piping material from the bag.
Where the piping bag is intended to be filled by an end-user, and where the
nozzle base is provided
with the above-mentioned surface dislocations, the gripping action of the
pouch on the nozzle base
may be such that the cap is not necessary, even where the nozzle base is made
from a material with
a low coefficient of friction such as stainless steel, and accordingly, the
lit may be provided
without the cap, if desired.
The outlet end of the pouch may suitably terminate in a nipple, which will
preferably be sealed and
which must be severed by a user prior to extruding material from the bag. This
feature is of
advantage to the domestic user, as it permits the pouch to be filled by the
user without material
dripping out through the outlet opening. It is also of advantage to the
commercial user who intends
to distribute the piping bags complete with a filling medium, as it permits
the filled bags to be
hermetically sealed and sterilized, thereby increasing the shelf life of the
product. Moreover,
piping bags sealed in this manner do not require the addition of any anti-
tamper security means at
the outlet end thereof, thereby avoiding the concomitant costs associated
therewith. Suitably, in
3o this case, the nozzle cap will serve to physically protect the nipple until
such time as it is desired to
use the piping bag, in addition to its other function or functions once the
bag is unsealed for use.
The preferred means for coupling the nozzle cap to the nozzle base comprises
thread means,
suitably with male threads disposed on the spout portion of the nozzle base
and female threads
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disposed on the cap, although other coupling means including snap couplings,
for example, may be
employed.
Given that the pouches at least of the piping bags are intended to be
disposable, it is necessary that
they be of relatively low cost. One of the preferred features of a piping bag
intended to be filled by
the user is a resealable closure for the filling end of the bag, preferably of
the push together zip
type. Where the pouch has a triangular shape when flat, the length of the fill
opening for a given
bag volume tends to be rather high, and given the relatively high cost of zip-
type resealable
closures, this would be a burdensome factor. A still further cost factor
associated with resealable
to triangular pouches is in the material wastage in manufacture. Generally
speaking, a film pouch will
be manufactured from two overlaying bands of film that are fused together to
define the margins of
the pouch. Where a resealable zip type closure is required, this will normally
be molded along one
lateral margin of the sheets only. Accordingly, approximately one half of the
sheet material will be
wasted when the pouches are formed in this manner. Yet another disadvantage
associated with the
triangular pouches is in the difficulty in assessing the amount of material
within the pouch, as this
will vary in a non-linear manner with the height of the material in the pouch.
In accordance with
one aspect of this invention, pouches for use with piping bag assemblies have
an elongated,
pentagonal form. Pouches of this form offer improvements over the triangular
form pouches in
each of the above areas, and are also advantageous for the user in
facilitating the expression of
2o medium from the bag, particularly where the bags are relatively large. This
type of bag has a still
further advantage in that it is readily manufactured and distributed in a web,
to facilitate its
handling by an industrial user in automated fill equipment.
The invention also contemplates piping bag kits comprising nozzle means and
pouches as
described above in connection with the first aspect of the invention.
Having described the broad aspects of the invention, it will be further
described in relation to
presently preferred embodiments thereof, from which still further objects,
aims and advantages of
the invention will become apparent.
Brief description of the drawings
Fig. 1 shows in elevation an exploded fragmentary view of a prior art
disposable piping
bag arrangement;
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Fig. 2 shows in elevation a filled piping bag in accordance with the
invention, broken to
indicate indefinite length and cut away to reveal detail;
Fig. 3 shows in longitudinal cross-section the first part of a nozzle means as
used in the
arrangement of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 shows in longitudinal cross-section a second part of a nozzle means
which may be
coupled to the first part as an alternative to the second part shown in Fig 2;
Fig. 5 shows in elevation a film pouch of a type used in the assembly of Fig.
2;
' Fig. 6 shows a film web in which pouches such as that seen in Fig. 5 are
formed;
Fig. 7 shows a cross-section on line 7-7 of Fig. 6; and
to Fig. 8 is similar to Fig. 3, but shows the addition of a security seal
thereto.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring to the drawings in detail, a prior art piping bag assembly as seen
in Fig. 1 is identified
1~ generally therein by the letter A. Assembly A includes a plastic film pouch
P which comprises a
pair of overlying film sheets Fl, F2 joined together along convergent sides S1
S2 to form a nipple
at end E. Only the lower portion of pouch P is illustrated, but it is to be
understood that sides S 1,
S2 are continuously divergent from end E to the upper edge of pouch P, the
pouch having a
triangular form as is common with fabric pastry bags of the prior art.
Assembly A further
20 ' comprises a nozzle N including a stepped, frusto-conical base portion B
and unitarily formed
therewith, a tip portion T. Prior to the assembly of pouch P and nozzle N, a
user is instructed to
sever end E along line X-X so as to provide an opening through which the tip
portion T of nozzle N
will project when the nozzle is passed through the pouch from the upper end.
Tip portion T is then
pulled from below the pouch, so as to engage base portion B in wedged, sealed
relationship with
25 the walls of the pouch. Over a period of time, the reactive force generated
by pouch P on nozzle
base B will tend to urge the nozzle base out of its sealing relationship with
the pouch, and leakage
of medium contained within the pouch will occur. This problem is particularly
acute when the
medium has significant oil or fat component, such as mayonnaise or whipped
butter.
3o Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate the improved piping bag assembly of the invention,
which is identified
therein generally by the numeral 10. Assembly 10 comprises a pouch 12, and a
nozzle means
comprising a first part 20, best seen in Fig. 3. First part 20 is broadly
funnel shaped and includes a
base portion 21 which is upwardly outwardly divergent in a frusto-conical
form, and which
connects in flow relationship with a right circular tubular spout 22 with an
outlet 22a, and a
35 transitional downwardly, inwardly, inclined shoulder 23 therebetween. Base
portion 21 is
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circumscribed with a plurality of ribs 24 raised thereon in parallel, axially
spaced apart relationship,
which ribs serve to strengthen the wall, and which also have an additional
purpose that will be
subsequently referred to. Tubular spout 22 has a male thread 25 raised
thereon.
The nozzle of assembly 10 includes at least one second part 30 which may
suitably be in the form
of a closed cap, as seen in Fig. 2, which cap has a female thread 31 formed
therein to be
connectable with male thread 25.
Pouch 12 in its unfilled condition, as best seen in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 comprises
a pair of flat film walls
lb 40a, 40b, sealed together along laterally extending edges 41. Edges 41 are
suitably parallel over the
upper, major portion of pouch 12, and then converge to terminate in a nipple
42, in effect having an
elongated pentagonal shape. The upper end 43 of pouch 12, in its flat,
unfilled condition is open, to
permit the first part 20 of the nozzle means to be inserted into the pouch,
and urged towards nipple
42, so causing the pouch to deform at least initially in an elastic manner in
which it tightly grips
15 and surrounds first nozzle part 20 in sealing relationship therewith.
Suitably and preferably, the
conical angle of the convergent wall portions of pouch 12 is generally the
same as that of base
portion 21, so as to enhance the gripping action of the walls of pouch 12 on
first nozzle part 20. It
will be appreciated that the film wall of pouch 12 will be in greatest tension
where it passes over
ribs 24, and that when first nozzle portion 20 is properly positioned in pouch
12, there will be little
20 likelihood of leakage occurring between the pouch wall and nozzle part 20.
Following the sealing engagement of first nozzle part 20 with the wall of
pouch 12, cap 30 will be
coupled to the first nozzle part, thereby trapping portions of the pouch wall
between the cap and the
first nozzle part, following which pouch 12 may be filled with a filling
medium M and hermetically
25 closed along seal line 36. It should be emphasized here that cap 30 does
not function at this stage
to seal piping bag assembly 10 in any manner, and that the assembly could be
distributed with the
cap in an uncoupled state. However, it is preferred that the two nozzle parts
be coupled together, as
the second part serves to protect nipple 42 from mechanical damage. Still
further, it serves to
prevent the dislodgement of nozzle first part 20 from its sealing engagement
with the wall of pouch
30 12 and its migration into the mass of filling medium M. Shrinking the pouch
12 onto the first
nozzle part 20 may also serve to prevent the dislodgement of the nozzle first
part. To this end, film
walls 40a, 40b may be formulated to facilitate for example, thermal shrin~age,
as is known in the
art. Still other means of shrinkage may be used and may under some
circumstances be preferred.
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The user of filled, sealed assembly 10 is instructed to use the assembly by
removing cap 30, and,
following a visual inspection to determine that nipple 42 has not been
tampered with, to sever the
nipple marginally below shoulder 23. This will then permit filling medium M to
be expressed from
pouch 12 through the tubular outlet 22a of the first nozzle part 20. Should it
be desired, assembly
10 might include one or more second nozzle parts, an exemplary alternative
such part being seen in
Fig. 4 and identified therein by the numeral 30'. Tt will be understood that
nozzle second part 30'
may conveniently be coupled to first part 20 in an identical manner to that in
which cap 30 is
coupled, to permit piping of a different cross section to be extruded from
assembly 10 through
decorative tip 32. Irrespective of the precise nature of nozzle second part
30, it is desirable that
to when it is secured to the nozzle first part, it will trap a portion of the
film wall of pouch 12 between
the two nozzle parts, to reduce the possibility of the accidental dislodgement
of the first nozzle part
20 as earlier spoken of. Conveniently, following the removal of nipple 42,
this trapping action will
arise between the upper peripheral end 33 of second nozzle part 30 and
shoulder 23. When a user
has partially used the filling medium M contained in piping bag assembly 10,
closed cap 30 may be
coupled with first nozzle part 20 to seal the contents of assembly 10 for
storage and subsequent
reuse if desired.
Assembly 10 as thus far described, is particularly suited for use in a
commercial filling and sealing
operation, although it is by no means limited thereto. Where assembly 10 is
intended for sale to an
end user in an unfilled condition, a modified pouch 12a, best seen in Figs. 6
and 7 may be provided.
Pouch 12a has a releasable closure means 50 at the upper end thereof.
Conveniently, closure 50
comprises a zip fastener of a type commonly used in food storage bags, such as
a push together or a
slide fastener .
Pouches 12 and 12a are typically manufactured from a web 60 comprising two
continuous,
overlaying bands 62a, 62b of food grade plastic film by fusing the film
together to form the side
margins 41 of the pouches, with each pouch having a side margin in common with
an adjacent
pouch. The pouches 12 or 12a so formed may suitably remain in the web 60 to
facilitate the
packing and handling of the pouches at a filling station, and thereby reduce
handling costs.
3o Where, as is particularly illustrated in Fig. 6, bands 62a, 62b include
closure elements 50,
these are suitably provided along one longitudinal side of the bands only, to
reduce the cost of
production of the bands. This leads to some material wastage, as the films
portions 45 will be
discarded. In practice such wastage is less than about five per cent of web
60. In comparison, were
triangular shape pouches to be formed in web 60, the wastage would be
approximately fifty per
cent, and the cost of the closure elements 50 for a pouch of a given volume
would be appreciably
higher than it is for the elongated pentagonal pouch 12a.
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While in the first embodiment of the invention the nipple end 42 of pouch 12
serves to
enclose spout opening 22a and thereby form a security seal for the contents M
contained within
piping bag 10, this arrangement may be changed if desired. Thus, as seen in
Fig. 8, in a nozzle first
part 120, a security seal 121 is provided at the outlet end of spout portion
122. Optionally, pouch 12
may be prepared at the time of its manufacture by severing nipple end 42 along
the line Y-Y, which
will permit the spout portion 122 of nozzle first part 120 to project through
pouch 12 when
assembled therewith.
