Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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LIQUID POUCH WITH DISPENSING FITMENT
AND SUPPORT PITCHER
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a liquid pouch having a dispensing fitment
adapted to be removable retained in a connecting slot of a pitcher.
BACKGROUND ART
Fitments for flexible bags are known and such a fitment is, for example,
described in U.S. Patent 6,053,360. These fitments are adapted to dispense a
liquid
contained in various collapsible bags or containers and some of these are
provided with
tubes, such as shown in the aforementioned patent which extends through a hole
of a
rigid container or else are disposed within a mechanical valve which opens and
closes
the tube to dispense the liquid from the bag. These fitments are usually
mounted at the
bottom of the bag whereby liquid can be discharged by gravity. In other
applications
liquid can be withdrawn from the bag by suction through their spouts or
fitments. The
bag is typically constructed of sheets of plastic material formed of
polyethylene,
polypropylene, nylon or polyester material.
These bags usually contain various
consumable liquids such as milk, juices, syrups, etc.
Liquids used for industrial
applications, such as chemicals, can also be packaged in such bag structures.
A common use of such bag is to dispense milk from milk pouches.
Pitchers are provided whereby to contain the milk pouch and for dispensing the
milk
therefrom. U.S. Patent Nos. 4,653,671, 3,799,400 and 3,606,962 show an example
of
such pitchers wherein a milk pouch or other liquid pouch is placed within the
pitcher and
an upper corner portion of the pouch is cut out by the use of scissors to form
a
dispensing opening. A disadvantage of such containers is that as the liquid
diminishes
within the pouch, the pouch collapses within the container making the
dispensing non-
uniform and sometimes causing the pouch to fall out of the pitcher, this
particularly so
when handled by children. Further, the open clipped corner of the pouch
remains
exposed to the environment and can pick-up odors or contamination of its
contents.
Another disadvantage of such bags or pouches and containers is that
often the dispensing spout is formed too large due to the fact that a larger
corner portion
of the bag is cut out, again particularly when handled by children and this
causes the
liquid to be dispensed too quickly out of the bag. Liquid can also be trapped
within the
bag by buckling of the bag when the liquid contents therein are substantially
reduced in
volume.
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A still further disadvantage of bags containing liquids is the securement of
the fitment to the bag. These fitments are usually heat sealed to the side
wall of the bag
and sometimes too close to edge seals or on a folded edge of the film and this
causes
imperfect welds and leaking in the surrounding area of the fitment where the
film is often
stretched and thinned out, making it easy to tear and causing leakage of the
content.
Another disadvantage of fitments is that these are usually provided with
threaded caps to seal the dispensing spout when it is not necessary to
dispense liquid
from the pouch. By threading and unthreading the dispensing cap, forces are
applied
about the spout and into the sealing flange thereabout causing tear of the
plastics
material in its weakened surrounding area. All of these disadvantages deter
consumers
from choosing flexible liquid pouches over traditional rigid liquid containing
containers.
A still further disadvantage is that most of these pouches are made of a
mix of polymers in laminated or co-extruded forms which are difficult to
recycle into
useful products.
Another disadvantage is that self-supporting pouches are much less rigid
when compared to conventional pitchers, and they are more difficult to utilize
due to the
collapse of the pouch as the liquid is disposed.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is a feature of the present invention to provide a liquid pouch with a
dispensing fitment and a support pitcher for use therewith which substantially
overcomes
all of the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.
According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the present
invention provides a liquid pouch comprised by a polymeric film material bag
which has a
front and a rear wall. The front and rear walls have a top and bottom edge and
opposed
side edges. A dispensing fitment is secured in an upper region of the pouch
spaced
from the top edge. The dispensing fitment has a rigid spout neck with a
removable
closure member. An attachment flange wall surrounds the spout neck and is
secured to
the plastic film material. The spout neck has a base formation shaped and
formed for
secured retention in a connecting slot of a support member.
According to a further broad aspect of the present invention there is
provided a pitcher for dispensing liquid from a pouch having a dispensing
fitment
provided with an engageable formation formed integral with a spout neck
thereof. The
pitcher has a connecting slot formed in an upper edge thereof. The connecting
slot has
a bottom retention section defined between opposed straight edges spaced apart
to
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receive the engageable formation in close fit retention therein. Retention
means is
provided to secure the base formation in the bottom retention section.
According to a still further broad aspect of the present invention the
engageable formation of the fitment is retained within the retention section
of the
connecting slot by spring friction fit and/or retention projections.
According to a further broad aspect of the present invention the
engageable formation of the fitment is retained within the retention section
of the
connecting slot by a retention projection formed in each of opposed straight
edges of the
connecting slot with the retention projections being transversely aligned with
one another
and extending above the engageable formation.
According to a still further broad aspect of the present invention there is
provided a liquid dispensing fitment formed of polymeric material for
securement to a
flexible bag. The fitment has a dispensing spout neck having a dispensing end.
A
removable closure member is adapted to be secured to an open end of the spout
neck.
A flange wall is formed integral about an attachment end of the spout neck.
The spout
neck has a base formation shaped for close fit retention in a connecting slot
of a
dispensing support member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a liquid pouch provided with the
dispensing
fitment of the present invention;
FIG. 2A is a side view of the fitment;
FIG. 2B is a front view of the fitment;
FIG. 3A is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the liquid pouch
wherein the top and bottom edges of the pouch are angulated;
FIG. 3B is a further plan view of the pouch of Figure 3A showing the
liquid level therein as well as the reduced air space at the top end of the
bag and the
reduction in plastic film material used to construct this bag;
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the
fitment showing
a feature of its flexible attachment flange wall;
FIG. 5 is a fragmented section view showing a further
example of the
construction of the flange wall to add rigidity to the fitment;
FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a pitcher containing the connecting slot
for retention of the fitment of the present invention therein;
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FIG. 6B is a cross-section side view of the pitcher;
FIG. 7
is a front view illustrating the construction of the connecting
slot; and
FIG. 8
is a top view of the reinforced pitcher wall in which the
connecting slot is formed.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 to 4,
there is shown generally at 10 a liquid pouch which is formed of polymeric
film material
formed of PE, PP PET, EVA, EMA, PVC, LLDPE and PP and blends and copolymers of
these products in the density range of .88 to .945 with a Melt Index of .25 to
5Ø The
pouch film may also consist of laminations as well as single layers of polymer
film or co-
extrusions, such as, for example, PET/PE; BOPP/PE; Nylon/PE; PP/PE; MetPET/PE;
and MetBOPP/PE, and equipped with the fitment 20 of the present invention. The
pouch or bag 10 has a front wall 11 and a rear wall 12. The pouch may be
formed by
different heat fusing processes and as hereinshown the bag further defines a
top edge
13 formed by a heat seal 14, a bottom edge 15 formed by a further heat seal 16
and a
side edge 17 formed by another heat seal 18. The opposed side edge 19 is
formed by a
fold of a plastic sheet folded upon itself to form the front and rear walls 11
and 12,
respectively.
As shown in Figure 1, a dispensing fitment 20 molded of plastics material
is secured to the pouch in the folded side wall 19. Alternatively, as shown in
dotted lines
at 20', the fitment may be secured to the front or rear walls adjacent a
corner thereof and
spaced from the top edge 13.
Referring now more specifically to Figures 2A and 2B, the dispensing
fitment 20 has a rigid spout neck 21 with a removable closure member 22
detachably
secured thereto. The closure member 22 is a threaded screw cap threadably
secured to
the threads 23 formed about the spout neck 21. The spout neck has a base
formation
24 shaped for close fit retention in a connecting slot of a support member as
will be
described later. An attachment flange wall 25 surrounds the base formation at
a rear
end thereof for securement to the plastic film material of the pouch 10. The
flange wall
25 is preferably, but not exclusively, flexible.
As shown in Figure 2B, the base formation 24 has at least a section
thereof, herein the opposed vertical side walls 26 thereof, shaped to define
vertical side
walls 26 extending parallel to one another and shaped for close fit retention
in a
connecting slot of a pitcher as will be described later. In one embodiment,
the base
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formation is retained in snug friction fit in the connecting slot of the
pitcher and prevent
the pouch and fitment from falling out of the pitcher. As shown in Figures 2A
and 2B, the
base formation has upper and lower transverse walls 26' and 26", respectively,
and
connected to the vertical walls at their ends through angled corner brace
walls 26" which
transfer compression forces between the side walls to the top and bottom walls
26' and
26" when press-fitted in the connecting slot. This snug fit prevents the pouch
from
slipping out of the pitcher when the pitcher is displaced to pour liquid out
of the pouch.
The flexible attachment flange 25, in the current embodiment, is formed of a
polymeric
material having a melt index of between 0.2 to 50 MI (melt index) and a
density of 0.912
to 0.960. The flexible attachment flange 25 is formed of polyethylene
materials including
HDPE, LDPE and LLDPE and copolymers.
As shown in Figure 4, the flexible attachment flange 25 is adapted to flex
during the heat fusing or ultrasonic welding of the fitment onto the plastic
film bag.
During the securement operation, the film material of the pouch herein
identified by the
film material of the front wall 11 exerts a pulling force on the flange 25 and
the flexing of
the flange prevents the formation of weakened areas or stretched areas in the
margin 27
at the intersection of the pouch film material 11 and the flexible attachment
flange wall
25. The flexing of the flange 27 is caused by a shear force applied at the
interface or
margin area 27 during heat fusing or ultrasonic welding of the fitment to the
film in a
sealing jaw. As also shown in Figure 4, an intermediate circumferential
retention and
reinforcing flange 27 separates the spout neck 21 from the base formation 24.
In one
embodiment, the film used was 4 mil and the sealing temperature was about 390
F at a
dwell time of about 2 seconds at suitable sealing jaw pressure.
The base formation 24 and the spout neck 21 and screw cap 22 may be
formed of a mixture of 30% LLDPE having a density of 0.924 and 70% of LDPE
having a
density of 0.921. The mixture may also have the same ranges and materials as
that of
the pouch. The base formation 24 is formed with sufficient rigidity to
withstand torque
applied to the neck when screwing and unscrewing the cap, particularly when
the base
formation is immovably retained in a connecting slot of a pitcher. A retention
flange 27 is
provided at the front end of the base formation and about the spout neck 21
which
solidifies the base formation and prevents the fitment from being pushed
inwardly when
the fitment is engaged in a retention slot of a pitcher as shown in Figure 6A.
A further
means of reinforcing the base formation 24 can be provided by constructing the
attachment flange 25 with a taper, as illustrated in Figure 5, wherein the
flange 25' has a
thicker portion at the base formation 24 tapering outwardly to its
circumferential periphery
where it needs to be more flexible. The thickness shown in Figure 5 is
exaggerated
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simply to illustrate the thickened flexible attachment flange wall adjacent
the base
formation.
Referring now to Figures 3A and 3B, there is illustrated a preferred
embodiment of the liquid pouch 10 wherein the top edge 13' and the bottom edge
15' are
angulated parallel edges sloping upwardly from side edge 17 towards side edge
19 in the
direction of the dispensing fitment 20 secured in the upper region of the
pouch. The
sloping bottom edge 15' extends at an angle of 75 with respect to the side
edge 17.
The reason for such sloped bottom and top edges is better illustrated in
Figure 3B
wherein it can be seen that the space area 30 at the top end of the bag is
reduced
saving on plastics material to form the bag. The area delineated by broken
lines 31
depicts the material that has been saved as opposed to the formation of a
rectangular
pouch. Also, the angulated bottom edge 15' permits a better flow of liquid out
of the
pouch through the spout opening when the pouch is retained in a pitcher having
a sloped
bottom wall as will be described hereinbelow. For the containment of one liter
of liquid
the pouch size has a height of 9.25 inches and a width of 6 inches. Other
possible
configurations of the pouch are contemplated as well as for the fitment, for
example, the
flanges may have a rectangular contour or other shape. Other pouch shapes are
also
envisaged.
With reference now to Figures 6A and 6B, there will be described the
construction of the support member, herein constituted by a pitcher 40. The
pitcher 40 is
provided with a connecting slot 41 formed in an upper edge thereof, herein in
the upper
edge of a front wall 42. As shown in Figure 6B, the pitcher also has an
inclined bottom
wall 43 extending upwardly in the direction of the connecting slot 41. The
pitcher defines
surrounding side walls 44 and has a handle 45 adjacent a rear upper end
thereof. The
inclined bottom wall 43 has an angle wherein the bottom edge 15' of the liquid
pouch
extends coplanar therewith when the pouch with a liquid 46 therein is disposed
within the
pitcher.
The connecting slot 41 has a bottom retention section 47 which is defined
between opposed spaced-apart straight edges 48. The straight edges 48 are
spaced
apart a distance to receive the opposed vertical side walls 26 of the base
formation 24 in
close fit therein, preferably slightly compressed friction fit. As shown in
Figure 7, the
connecting slot 41 defines a bottom retention section which is delineated
below retention
projections 49 formed in the opposed side edges 48. These retention
projections 49
extend slightly over the top wall 50 of the base formation 24, hereinshown in
phantom
line in Figure 7. As hereinshown the top wall of the base formation is a flat
top wall as
well as the bottom wall of the base formation 24. Accordingly, the base
formation 24 is
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retained captive by the retention projections 49 and cannot slide outwardly of
the
connecting slot 41 unless an upward puling force is applied by the user
person. The top
end of the connecting slot has sloped edges 51 to facilitate the placement of
the fitment
within the connecting slot. The retention projections 49 constitute retention
means to
capture the base formation of the fitment in the bottom retention section of
the retention
slot. The fitment base formation 24 may also constitute the retention means by
friction fit
retention between the opposed straight edges 48 of the connecting slot 41. The
slot 41
can be shaped differently to provide friction fit retention with the base
formation 24, such
as conic, and may have a curved bottom edge, etc. The projections 49 may thus
not be
necessary. However, the retention projections 49 assure a more secure
connection.
The pitcher is formed of plastics material and preferably, but not
exclusively, this plastic material can be thickened in the area 53 surrounding
the
connecting slot 41, as illustrated in Figure 8. An advantage of that thickened
area is to
provide rigidity about the base formation 24 of the fitment which is also
reinforced to
resist torsion when screwing or unscrewing the cap to prevent disconnection of
the
fitment within the connecting slot and prevent damaging of the connection of
the fitment
with the film material to which it is attached. The pitcher 40 defines a pouch
receiving
chamber 52 of oval shape cross-section which is dimensioned for receiving the
pouch
with liquid therein in close fit and with the fitment secured in the
connecting slot. A cover,
not shown, may be fitted over the top end of the chamber 52 to conceal the
pouch. As
shown in Figure 3B, the liquid 46 within the pouch 10 has a top level 46'
which extends a
predetermined distance below the spout neck 21 of the fitment whereby to
prevent
spillage when removing the closure seal member 55 after the fitment is
positioned within
the pitcher connecting slot 41. This removable closure seal member assures
that the
content of the pouch has not been tampered with and seals the dispensing
opening
during transportation and handling prior to use by the consumer. The closure
screw cap
prevents surrounding strong odors from having an effect on the taste of the
liquid by
absorption. The ideal height of the pitcher for a one quart liquid pouch is
established at
9.5 inches. This allows for almost no slack of the liquid pouch with the
fitment secured in
the slot. If the pouch was significantly longer than the eight of the pitcher,
the pouch
could buckle in the mid-region thereof during use. Therefore, when the pouch
seems
empty, the wrinkle or crimping in the pouch, caused by the buckling in the
film, would
cause the liquid to pool, leaving liquid in the pouch.
When the pouch is fitted within the pitcher 40 and the pitcher is tilted
forwardly towards the dispensing fitment 20, the sloped bottom wall 15'
facilitates in the
dispensing of all of the liquid within the pouch due to its sloping wall
extending towards
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the fitment, preventing liquid from being retained within the pouch due to the
deformation
of the pouch with the film material collapsing and being distorted and forming
liquid
retention cavities.
It is within the ambit of the present invention to cover any obvious
modifications of the preferred embodiment described herein, provided such
modifications
fall within the scope of the appended claims.
