Flexible plastic container

Abstract

A flexible polymeric container for storing and dispensing liquids includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall connected together to define a fluid chamber therebetween. The first sidewall and the second sidewall are constructed of a coextrusion structure. The first sidewall and the second sidewall each have an inner surface facing the fluid chamber and an opposed outer surface. A fitment is attached to an outer surface of one of the first sidewall or the second sidewall. The fitment has an opening therethrough which has an axis substantially perpendicular to the outer surface. A pattern of protuberances on the inner surface of one of the first sidewall or the second sidewall defines a plurality of pathways having at least a first pathway and a second pathway intersecting one another. The protuberances facilitate evacuation of liquid when portions of the first sidewall and the second sidewall interlock during evacuation.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates generally to a flexible plastic container and more particularly to a flexible container for directing a flowable material contained therein to a fitment of the container and dispensing the flowable material therefrom. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Collapsible plastic bags are often used to store liquid products such as chemicals, soft drink syrups, fruit juices and food condiments. The plastic bags are typically housed in a corrugated paperboard box to aid in the transporting, handling and dispensing of the product. Such packaging systems are commonly referred to as “bag-in-box” packaging systems. [0003] The plastic bags typically have sidewalls sealed along a peripheral seam to define a fluid containing chamber. A spout or a fitment provides access to the fluid chamber for filling and dispensing the product within the bag. Vacuum pump systems are sometimes connected to the container to assist in draining fluid from the conta...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] The concepts of the present invention relate to a flexible polymeric container for storing and dispensing liquids and a method for manufacturing the same. Such a flexible polymeric container usually has two sidewalls connected together to define a fluid chamber therebetween where the sidewalls are made up of a plurality of layers which have been coextruded together. Without limiting the present invention as to theory, the use of sidewalls which are multi-layered and coextruded together provides a polymeric film in which the physical properties of the film can be controlled to provide the desired physical properties such as stiffness, heat sealability, permeability and puncture resistance which can be carefully controlled by controlling the polyermic films use in the coextrusion.

[0013] The ability to carefully control those physical properties provides substantial improvements over the Evacufilm® bag previously utilized and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,715,644. The control of stiffness or rigidity, while maintaining flexibility, provides creases which serve to evacuate liquid from the bag while controlling and preventing excess interlocking that would otherwise inhibit liquid flow from the container.

[0014] In the preferred practice of the invention, the container includes first and second sidewalls, each having an inner surface facing the fluid chamber and an opposed outer surface. A fitment is attached to a surface of one of the first sidewall or the second sidewall, the fitment having an opening therethrough having an axis substantially perpendicular to the outer surface. A pattern comprising protuberances is provided on the inner surface of at least one of the first sidewall or the second sidewall to define a plurality of pathways having at least a first pathway and a second pathway intersecting one another. The protuberances facilitate evacuation of liquid when portions of the first sidewall and the second sidewall interlock during evacuation.

Problems solved by technology

Both gravity dispensing bags and vacuum pump systems suffer from the common drawback that fluid may become trapped within the folds of the bag during draining.

As the bag is emptied by the force of the vacuum pump, or by the force of gravity, portions of the bag collapse unevenly, tending to leave pockets of product, typically liquid, which may become isolated from the rest of the liquid in the container.

The evacuation channel, however, forms a conduit which cannot be closed off by the folds created in the bag.

Several problems have been encountered with these types of evacuation units.

For example, during the filling process, typically done in a high speed and high pressure process, the evacuation unit is susceptible of being dislodged from the spout thereby rendering the evacuation unit inoperative.

Also, the attaching ring can impede the flow of liquid during the filling process thereby slowing the filling process.

Because the evacuation unit is positioned in a location that is in line with the incoming fluid during the filling process, it is susceptible of being dislodged from its mounting to the container thereby rendering it ineffective.

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